The Himachal Pradesh government has submitted a bid to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to host the Khelo India Youth Games, marking a potential turning point for the state's sports ecosystem. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced the move days ago, and the Department of Youth Services and Sports has already begun preparations. SAI observers are expected to visit the state to inspect sporting infrastructure before deciding on the allocation.
Long-Awaited Multi-Discipline Event
Himachal has not hosted a major multi-discipline sports event in years, with only a few national-level events like boxing, some IPL games, and international cricket matches at Dharamsala taking place. The Khelo India Youth Games, featuring 25 disciplines, would be the first such large-scale event in the state in a long time.
Stakeholders Welcome the Bid
Sports stakeholders have welcomed the bid. Himachal Pradesh Olympic Association Secretary Rajesh Bhandari said, "The Games would give a massive boost to sports culture in the state. When children see the country’s best talent slugging it out in front of them, many of them will be inspired to pursue sports. The parents will also want their children to pursue sports." He added that the impact goes beyond immediate rewards, citing Uttarakhand's hosting of its first National Games last year, which built extensive infrastructure and is expected to produce top-level players.
Infrastructure Readiness
The key question is whether Himachal has the required infrastructure. Most sports administrators believe it can, by spreading disciplines across districts like Bilaspur, Kangra, Una, and Hamirpur. SK Shandil, Secretary of the HP Boxing Association, noted, "A multipurpose indoor stadium is nearing completion at Nadaun. It can host competitions in various disciplines." A sports official added that some disciplines could be held in Chandigarh and Patiala if needed.
However, Shimla is unlikely to host any events due to a failed indoor stadium project at Katasani, where around Rs 25 crore was spent but the project was ruined by carelessness, mismanagement, and poor planning.
Challenge of Preparing Athletes
Another challenge is preparing the state's sportspersons for the Games, as host states are expected to perform well. Bhandari highlighted, "There’s a huge shortage of coaches in the state. How can we expect our sportspersons to do well if they don’t get proper coaching? This is another key area along with infrastructure that we need to look at."
