Garhwal Post Bureau
New Delhi, 26 Oct: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Monday announced a 17-member Indian contingent for the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Senegal, with athletes set to compete in 11 sports.
The Games, scheduled from October 31 to November 13, will be the first Olympic event to be held on the African continent. Around 2,700 athletes from 207 delegations are expected to compete in 25 sports, the IOA said in a press release.
For the Indian athletes, the Games will provide an opportunity to gain international exposure, compete against peers from across the world and advance their sporting careers, it said.
IOA President P.T. Usha said Dakar 2026 would be an important milestone for India’s young athletes and expressed confidence that some of them could go on to represent the country at Brisbane 2032 and beyond.
“Dakar 2026 is an important milestone for our young athletes. They represent the future of Indian sport, and among them may be the champions who will represent India at Brisbane 2032 and beyond,” Usha said.
The IOA also said it would use the Games to strengthen ties with National Olympic Committees, particularly in Africa, and explore cooperation in athlete and coach exchanges, technical expertise and training practices.
Usha is expected to sign MoUs on sports cooperation and exchange with National Olympic Committees of several African countries, including Namibia and Mauritius, during the Games, it said.
The IOA said such partnerships could help strengthen pathways for youth athletes as India looks towards the Amdavad 2030 Commonwealth Games and Brisbane 2032 Olympics.
