17 Indian Athletes to Compete in 11 Sports at Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games

A contingent of 17 Indian athletes will compete across 11 sports at the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Senegal, with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) announcing the team and extending its best wishes to the athletes, coaches and support staff.

Scheduled from October 31 to November 13, the Games will mark a historic milestone as the first Olympic event to be held on the African continent.

The Youth Olympic Games are designed for athletes aged up to 17 at the time of competition, combining elite sporting contests with opportunities for education and cultural exchange. Around 2,700 young athletes from 207 delegations are expected to participate in 25 sports.

Sarthak Arya Eyes Long-Term Olympic Ambitions

Among the Indian athletes heading to Dakar is table tennis player Sarthak Arya, who views the Youth Olympics as an important step towards his long-term sporting goals.

“The Youth Olympics will be a stepping-stone in my journey,” Sarthak said, outlining his ambition to represent India at the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Amdavad and the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.

He also expressed hope of competing at home if India hosts the 2036 Olympic Games, saying that winning an Olympic medal for the country on home soil would be a special achievement.

IOA Sees Opportunity to Strengthen International Sporting Ties

The Games will also provide the IOA with an opportunity to engage with National Olympic Committees from around the world on identifying emerging talent, supporting athlete development and creating pathways from youth-level competition to elite sport.

According to the IOA, such exchanges could help strengthen India's sporting development plans as the country looks towards the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.

IOA president P. T. Usha described Dakar 2026 as an important milestone for India's young athletes, noting that some of them could go on to represent the country at Brisbane 2032 and beyond.

She wished the contingent success and expressed confidence that the athletes would make the country proud. Usha also congratulated the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee and the Senegalese Olympic Committee on hosting the first Olympic event on African soil.

Proposed Sports Cooperation Agreements with African Nations

During the Games, Usha is also expected to sign memoranda of understanding on sports cooperation and exchange with the National Olympic Committees of several African countries, including Namibia and Mauritius.

The proposed agreements are intended to provide a framework for closer collaboration, including athlete and coach exchanges, sharing technical expertise and training practices, and exploring other areas of mutual interest.

The IOA said experience gained through these partnerships could help it consider similar arrangements with other national Olympic bodies interested in strengthening sporting ties with India.

With 17 athletes competing in 11 sports, the Dakar campaign will offer India's emerging sporting talent an opportunity to gain international experience while preparing for future elite-level competitions.