For the first time in the history of Khelo India Youth Games, Goa failed to bag even a single medal. At the recently concluded Khelo India Youth Games 2024 in Tamil Nadu, the state drew blank. Even union territories which are much smaller in size and has lesser population compared to Goa, Puducherry and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu - finished on the podium. All 36 states and union territories of India had participated at the Khelo India Youth Games 2024. But, only 31 states and union territories finished on the podium.
At the last edition of Khelo India Youth Games 2023 held in Madhya Pradesh, Goa had won just a solitary bronze medal to finish at a poor 31st position in the medal tally.
This year, a 45-member Goan contingent took part in nine disciplines – football, boxing, gatka, gymnastics, judo, mallakhamb, shooting, weightlifting and yogasana. But, none of the Goan athletes could make any significant impact and had to return home empty ended. This is a far cry from the 92 medals that Goa had won at the 2023 National Games a few months ago which were mostly due to import of athletes from other states.
Goa’s performance exposes the state’s complete failure in grooming and nurturing young talent in spite of having comparatively better sports infrastructure.
The Khelo India programme which was introduced in 2018 to revive sports culture in India at the grass-root level has held six editions of Khelo India Youth Games so far.
Till date, Goa has won 41 medals (3 gold, 17 silver and 21 bronze) in these games.
But, over the years, Goa’s performance at the Khelo India Youth Games has been on the decline. The state won mere four medals (2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze) at the last three editions as compare to 37 medals (1 gold, 16 silver and 20 bronze) it won in the first three editions. This just shows that all is not well in Goan sports.
Maharashtra which won the last edition held in Madhya Pradesh, were champions this time as well with a total of 158 medals (57 gold, 48 silver and 53 bronze). No other team barring Maharashtra and Haryana has won the Khelo India Youth Games title till date.
