IOS gives final approval, 38th National Games will be held in Uttarakhand from 28 January to 14 February
National Games will be held in Uttarakhand from 28 January to 14 February 2025. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has given its final approval to their organization. Sports Minister Rekha Arya said that the department has received the letter of the Indian Olympic Association regarding the finalization of the dates of the games. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had also recommended these dates. In this 38th session of the National Games, 32 main and four exhibition sports will be organized, which also include yogasana and mallakhamb.
According to the original Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2014 between the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Uttarakhand State Olympic Association (USOA), it was proposed to organize 34 games during these games.
However, IOA President PT Usha and the Technical Steering Committee (GTCC) of the Games approved 32 main sports and four exhibition sports in their recent meeting. Equestrian and sailing were not included in these. The IOA president said that the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand is expected to prove to be a historic competition in promoting both traditional and modern sports in India.
No medals will be given in traditional sports
There will be competitions in the traditional sports Kalaripayattu, Yogasana, Malkhamb and Rafting included in the National Games, but these will not be included in the medal tally. At the same time, some local players say that if Kalaripayattu, Yogasana, Malkhamb and Rafting were included in the National Games, then the state’s position in the medal tally could have improved further due to the better performance of the state’s players. According to Sports Minister Rekha Arya, Uttarakhand is the birthplace of these games. The government will write a letter on this issue to the Union Sports Minister as well as the Indian Olympic Association on Tuesday. They will be requested to include these games in the National Games.
These 32 sports will be included
Athletics, water sports, archery, badminton, basketball, bowling, boxing, canoeing and kayaking, cycling, fencing, football, golf, gymnastics, handball, hockey, judo, kabaddi, kho-kho, modern pentathlon, netball, rowing, rugby, shooting, squash, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, wrestling, wushu have been included.
11 sports less compared to Goa
43 sports were included in the 37th National Games held in Goa last year. Whereas only 32 sports have been included in the 38th National Games to be held in Uttarakhand in 2025. Due to which 11 sports are less compared to the National Games held in Goa.
The inclusion of exhibition sports like Kalaripayattu, Yogasana, Mallakhamb and Rafting in the National Games reflects our commitment to respect India’s rich heritage and encourage new opportunities for sportspersons.
-PT Usha, IOA President
The government is fully confident about the preparations for the National Games. The event is going to be historic in many ways. This is an unprecedented opportunity for the players of the state. The players of the state can give their best performance on home ground.
- Rekha Arya, Sports Minister, Uttarakhand
