Rohit Bhandiye
PANAJI
Sportsfans in Goa are in for a treat. The state is gearing up to hostmultiple sporting events within the next two months from Nov 2026 –Jan 2027.
Thesporting calendar is packed with a lot of sports events lined up forthe next two months.
Itstarted with the first edition of Future Champions – Goa 2026. Theevent which featured three disciplines – Swimming, Badminton andTable Tennis – was successfully held on 05 and 06 Nov 2026 at theIndoor Stadium and Swimming Pool in Campal. The event was meant forathletes aged between 6 to 18 in order to identify future champions.
Theinaugural edition of the games attracted 562 entries across threedisciplines - Swimming (104 boys and 111 girls), Badminton (153 boysand 86 girls) and Table Tennis (74 boys and 34 girls).
Theperson in-charge in organizing these games, Dr. Ajay Gaude, Director,Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs & Executive Director,Sports Authority of Goa expressed happiness on the overall response.
Gaudetold The Goan, “Themain idea behind organizing these games was to givean exposure to all parents and a platform for the athletes to comeand play. Because there are very few opportunities that they get.Many parents have come to me personally and told they are very happybecause we have not charged a single rupee as entry fee. It was justcome and play and showcase your talent. And we will not stop here. Wewill pick up this talent and ask the parents whether they areinterested to put their child into Khelo India Centre of Excellence. If they wish to, they can join the academy full-fledged at no cost tothe athlete. It is 100 per cent being handled by the sportsministry.”
Gaudefurther added, “Athletes from all the talukas of Goa, right fromPernem to Canacona came to participate. Their parents were also veryenthusiastic. The crowd on both the days was same from morning tillevening; they were there for the entire day. So, this is what Iwanted. Give them exposure, give them platform and that is how wepromote sports. Feedback from the parents has been very positive.They were very happy with the conduct of the games and said that thisshould continue in future as well.”
Next,Goa will be hosting the 70thNational School Games in Shooting in U-17 Boys & Girls at theYash Shooting Hub in Mandrem from 24 - 26 Nov 2026.
TheU-19 Boys & Girls Swimming of the 70thNational School Games will also be held in Goa at the Campal SwimmingPool in the second week of Jan 2027.
“Goawill be hosting the National School Games U-17 Boys & GirlsShooting and U-19 Boys & Girls Swimming in the month of Nov 2026and Jan 2027 respectively,” Ajay Gaude said.
Besidesthat, Goa will also be hosting the Asmita League from 27 Nov – 19Dec 2026. This league will feature five disciplines – Athletics,Badminton, Football, Sepak Takraw and Swimming. It will be held indifferent parts of the state and will be strictly meant for womenathletes.
TheState-Level Tribal Sports Festival will be held in Canacona from 11 -13 Dec 2026.
AllIndia Civil Services Football Tournament 2026–27 will be held inBambolim from 17 - 24 Dec 2026.
Gaudesaid, “Besides hosting these games, we will distribute all thepending prize money of associations and players. Tentatively, we areplanning on 26 Nov 2026. We will also be launching a sports portal inthe month of Dec 2026.”
Gaudeexpressed confidence of successfully hosting these games. He said,“Infrastructure is ready, human resource is also ready. All thepreparations are going smoothly. Administratively, we have taken allthe approvals, everything is done. Goa is ready for hosting thesegames and also participating.”
Goawill also be participating in the Khelo Youth Games 2026 to be heldin Hyderabad from 11 – 22 Dec 2026.
The22-member Goan contingent comprises of 10 male and 12 female athletesand will take part in four disciplines – Swimming (1), Gatka (1),Kalaripayattu (8) and Mallakhamb (12).
