Centre approves ₹22 crore for 8th Khelo India Youth Games in Telangana

The 8th edition of the Khelo India Youth Games will see more than 6,000 athletes compete across four Telangana cities after the Centre approved a ₹22-crore allocation for the December tournament. The multi-city event will be staged in Hyderabad, Warangal, Karimnagar and Mahabubnagar in coordination with the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, covering 25 sporting disciplines.

Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy announced the funding on Wednesday while detailing the Centre's sports infrastructure investments in the state. Telangana has already received nearly ₹30 crore under the Khelo India scheme for building facilities, with ₹11.5 crore dedicated to Osmania University alone. The university upgrades include a synthetic athletics track, a synthetic tennis court and a women-only swimming pool. An additional ₹18.5 crore was deployed to develop sports infrastructure in various towns across Telangana.

Grassroots focus

The state now hosts around 33 Khelo India centres established to identify and train emerging talent at the grassroots level. A further ₹8.5 crore has been channelled to Telangana through the National Sports Development Fund.

Reddy underscored the Centre's expanded commitment to sport by noting that the national sports budget has grown from ₹1,219 crore before 2014 to ₹3,794 crore in the 2025, 26 financial year. According to an official press release, 350 sports infrastructure projects worth ₹3,181 crore have been completed nationwide over the past 12 years, compared to 38 projects valued at ₹191 crore before 2014.

The December games will mark the first time Telangana hosts the multi-discipline youth championship, positioning the state's upgraded facilities before a national audience of young athletes.

Source: The Hindu