The National Games 2023India’s own multi-sport event inspired by the Olympics, starts in Goa on Thursday. The tiny southwestern coastal state will be hosting the National Games for the first time in its history.
This will be the 37th National Games. Goa were to host the 36th edition of the Games but it was shifted to Gujarat in 2022 after being postponed multiple times due to COVID-19.
The National Games will be held in five Goan cities – Mapusa, Margao, Panjim, Ponda and Vasco. Only the track cycling events and golf will be held outside Goa in Delhi.
The National Games were first held in Lahore, undivided India, in 1924 and were known as the Indian Olympic Games until 1938.
In Goa, over 10,000 athletes, around 3,000 more than the previous edition in Gujarat, will feature in 43 sports which include both indoor and outdoor competitions.
Sqay martial arts, rollball, sepaktakraw, kalaripayattu, pencak silat and mini golf have been added to the National Games sports programme this year. Yachting and taekwondo, excluded in Gujarat 2022, will be back in Goa.
Athletes from 28 states, eight Union Territories and Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) will be seen in action at the Games, which concludes on November 9.
Though badminton, weightlifting and some of the other events at the National Games 2023 have already begun, the Games will officially get underway on October 26 with an opening ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Panaji on Thursday.
Last year, the Services won their fourth consecutive title with 128 medals; 61 golds, 35 silvers and 32 bronze. As many as 29 teams won at least one gold medal at the 2022 edition.
Where to watch National Games 2023 live in India
The National Games 2023 will be telecast live on the DD Sports TV channel in India. Live streaming and highlights can be watched on JioCinema and the YouTube channels — Prasar Bharati Sports and National Games Goa 2023.
