Mandaviya and Revanth Reddy unveil Khelo India Youth Games logo and mascot
The 8th edition of the Khelo India Youth Games will be held in Telangana from December 11 to 22, 2026.
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya and Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy introduced the logo and mascot for the 8th Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) on Sunday. According to The Tribune, the event is scheduled to take place in Telangana from December 11 to 22, 2026.
The Games are expected to host around 8,000 athletes across six cities, including Hyderabad, Khammam, Karimnagar, Hanumakonda, Mahabubnagar and Nizamabad. The competition will feature 29 disciplines, consisting of 27 competitive sports and two demonstration events. Softball will be included as a competitive discipline for the first time, while Sailing and Karra Samu will debut as demonstration sports.
Mandaviya stated that the Union Government is committed to promoting sports through various initiatives like the Beach Games, Winter Games and Tribal Games to encourage youth participation. He noted that the central government and the Telangana government will work together to build a strong sporting culture in the country.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said the games help advance the Prime Minister's vision of a Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat by encouraging young people to avoid substance abuse. The mascot, named Neelamani, is intended to represent energy, agility and determination.
The launch event was attended by Telangana Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Vakiti Srihari, Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Sports Authority of India (SAI) Director General Hari Ranjan Rao.