Panaji: Goa is set to make history by hosting the 37th edition of the National Games, featuring a record-breaking 43 sporting disciplines, according to Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant.
Compared to the previous edition in Gujarat, which featured 36 disciplines, and Kerala’s 2015 edition with 33, this year’s National Games will be the largest ever, he told reporters here.
“We aspire to establish a thriving sports ecosystem in Goa. Just as tourists have long enjoyed our beautiful beaches, we now aim to attract sports enthusiasts from around the globe,” the Chief Minister said.
Events like Ironman and the World Table Tennis event have showcased Goa’s capabilities in hosting international sporting events, Swant said.
The Olympic-style multisport event will witness participation from 28 states and 8 union territories and is scheduled to take place from October 26 to November 9, he said.
Multiple venues throughout the state will host the various competitions, with cycling and golf being held in Delhi, the Chief Minister said.
The 37th National Games will mark the debut of several new sports disciplines on the medal stage, including beach football, roll ball, golf, sepaktakraw, sqay martial arts, kalliyarapattu, and pencak silat, Sawant said.
Additionally, yachting and taekwondo are making a triumphant return to the Games after their exclusion during the last edition, he said.
To celebrate tradition, the sports of lagori and gatka have been included as demonstration sports, adding a unique and cultural dimension to the event, the CM added.
