Goa to Host 37th National Games with Record 43 Water Sports 

Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant and the State Sports Minister revealed that Goa is set to make history by hosting the 37th edition of the National Games, featuring a record-breaking 43 sporting disciplines in a Press Conference today. 

The event promises to be a celebration of athletic prowess, camaraderie, and is to feature the introduction of several exciting sports disciplines. 

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.

Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant stated his vision for Goa, saying, “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. Events like Ironman and the World Table Tennis event have showcased our capabilities in hosting international sporting events. With state-of-the-art infrastructure developed for the National Games, we invite sports associations and national federations to utilize these facilities year-round. Our objective is to elevate sports in Goa to new heights.”

The Olympic-style multisport event will witness participation from 28 states and 8 union territories and is scheduled to take place from October 26th to November 9th. Multiple venues throughout the state will host the various competitions, with cycling and golf being held in Delhi.

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. Additionally, yachting and taekwondo are making a triumphant return to the Games after their exclusion during the last edition. To celebrate tradition, the sports of lagori and gatka have been included as demonstration sports, adding a unique and cultural dimension to the event.