Khelo India Youth Games 2026 Logo and Mascot Neelamani Out

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya and Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy together released the logo, the tagline and the mascot of the eighth edition of the Khelo India Youth Games on 15 November 2026. The multi-sport meet for school and college age athletes moves to Telangana this season and is scheduled from 11 to 22 December 2026.

Where it will be played

Six cities of the state will share the programme. Hyderabad, Khammam, Karimnagar, Hanumakonda, Mahabubnagar and Nizamabad will each stage events, and about 8,000 athletes and participants are expected to reach Telangana for the meet.

Sports on the list

The Telangana edition carries 29 disciplines in all. Of these, 27 are competitive sports and the remaining two are demonstration events. Softball enters the Khelo India Youth Games as a competitive discipline for the first time. Sailing and Karra Samu also make a debut, but in the demonstration category. Indigenous sports keep a firm place on the list: Mallakhamb, Thang-Ta, Gatka, Kalaripayattu, Kho-Kho, Kabaddi and Yogasana sit alongside Olympic disciplines such as archery, athletics, boxing, cycling, fencing, hockey, judo, rowing, shooting, swimming, weightlifting and wrestling.

What the logo shows

Eight elements were woven into the emblem. The saffron and green running figure of the Khelo India mark stands for the national programme and for youthful momentum. The Gandhi Tower, planned as part of the Gandhi Sarovar at Bapu Ghat, carries the idea of peace and unity, while the Kakatiya Kala Thoranam speaks for the heritage of the state. The Buddha statue of Hussain Sagar is read as harmony and discipline, and the Tangedu flower ties the design to Bathukamma, the flower festival of Telangana. Seven sporting silhouettes form a skyline of games beside the skyline of monuments, and a ribbon in blue, green and yellow rings the whole design. The tagline chosen is Khel Ka Junoon, Telangana Ki Jaan Aur Pehchaan.

The mascot

The mascot has been named Neelamani. Its crest is meant to suggest forward movement, its eyes focus and intelligence, its beak determination, and its blue and turquoise plumage a sense of freedom and confidence. Four words are attached to it: Vibrant, Courageous, Agile and Pride.

Who attended

Telangana Sports Minister Vakiti Srihari, Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Telangana Olympic Association President A. P. Jithender Reddy, Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju and Sports Authority of India Director General Hari Ranjan Rao were present at the launch.