~ India’s young athletes set to gain valuable international experience as the first Olympic event on African soil gets underway
"VAN" (Sports Desk - 27.10.2026) :: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has announced the Indian contingent that will represent the country at the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Senegal.
India will be represented by 17 athletes across 11 sports. For the young athletes
selected, the Games offer an important opportunity to test themselves on the
international stage, learn from competitors from around the world and take
another step in their sporting journeys.
Taking place from 31 October to 13 November 2026, Dakar 2026 will be a
landmark occasion for the Olympic Movement: it will be the first Olympic event
held on the African continent. Around 2,700 young athletes from 207 delegations
are expected to compete in 25 sports. The Youth Olympic Games are designed
for athletes aged up to 17 at the time of the event, combining high-level
competition with opportunities for learning and cultural exchange.
The Games will also give the IOA an opportunity to connect with National Olympic
Committees from across the world and exchange ideas on identifying talent,
supporting athlete development and building pathways from youth sport to the
elite level. These conversations can help inform India’s own sporting ambitions as
the country looks towards Amdavad 2030 and Brisbane 2032, while continuing to
build stronger, more sustainable pathways for the next generation of athletes.
During the Games, IOA President Dr. P. T. Usha is also expected to sign
memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on sports cooperation and exchange with
National Olympic Committees of several African countries, including Namibia
and Mauritius, among others. The agreements will provide a framework for closer
cooperation between the Olympic organisations, with scope to promote athlete
and coach exchanges, share technical expertise and training practices, and explore other areas of mutual interest. Experience gained through these
partnerships may also help the IOA explore similar arrangements with other
National Olympic Committees interested in strengthening sporting ties with India.
Dr. P. T. Usha, President of the IOA, said: “Dakar 2026 is an important milestone for
our young athletes. They represent the future of Indian sport, and among them
may be the champions who will represent India at Brisbane 2032 and beyond. I
wish the entire contingent every success and am confident they will make the
country proud. I also extend my best wishes to the Dakar 2026 Organising
Committee and the Senegalese Olympic Committee. Hosting the first Olympic
event on the African continent is a historic moment for the Olympic Movement,
and we look forward to sharing this landmark occasion with Senegal and the
wider Olympic community.”
Among the athletes preparing for Dakar is Sarthak Arya, one of India’s promising
young table tennis players, who is already looking ahead to the next milestones
in his career.
Sarthak Arya said: “The Youth Olympics will be a stepping-stone in my journey. I
dream of representing India at the Commonwealth Games in Amdavad in 2030
and then at the Olympic Games in Brisbane in 2032. Looking further ahead, if India
gets the opportunity to host the Olympic Games in 2036, competing at home and
hopefully winning an Olympic medal for my country would be truly special.”
The IOA wishes all the athletes, coaches and support staff representing India in
Senegal the very best for the Games.
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