DEHRADUN – Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 38th edition of the National Games today at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun, marking the start of an 18-day sporting extravaganza in Uttarakhand.
Around 10,000 athletes and officials from 38 teams are participating in the Games, which coincide with Uttarakhand’s 25th anniversary. Events will take place across seven cities, with Dehradun serving as the main venue alongside Haridwar, Nainital, Haldwani, Rudrapur, Shivpuri, and New Tehri.
The Games will feature a mix of Olympic sports, including athletics, swimming, and wrestling, alongside traditional Indian sports like kabaddi and kho kho. Additionally, demonstration sports such as kalarippayattu, yogasana, mallakhambh, and rafting will showcase India’s cultural heritage.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh, and other dignitaries joined the ceremony, celebrating the state’s rich tradition and its growing prominence in Indian sports. The event will run until February 14.