Youth National Games begin at IGI Stadium

The Society for Transformation, Inclusion, and Recognition through Sports (STAIRS) Foundation, a private National Sports Promotion Organisation committed to grassroots sports development in India, launched the STAIRS Youth National Games at Delhi's Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, heralding the start of an exhilarating three-day sports extravaganza showcasing over 5,000 gold medallists from across 15 states and Union territories.

“The participants, selected through a rigorous process involving over 2,000 district championships, range from 8 to 19 years. They are supported by a robust team comprising 560 coaches, 490 officials, and 350 volunteers, reflecting a tremendous collaborative effort. These athletes were chosen from over 200,876 participants, including 131,538 males and 69,338 females,” said a press release from STAIRS.

The event's grandeur was amplified by the presence of several distinguished guests, including STAIRS brand ambassador and renowned actor Amit Sadh, joined by board members -- Lt. Gen. PJS Pannu (Retd), former Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Services; Vishwas Tripathi, Chairman, UNI; Nikhil Nanda, MD, JHS Svendgaard; and Pankaj Dubey, CEO & Founder, DSPIN Consulting Pvt. Ltd.

Sharing his excitement, Sadh said, “Being part of STAIRS and this launch is incredibly exhilarating. It's a powerful movement that resonates deeply with my values and aspirations. Together with STAIRS, I am committed to advancing this cause, aiming to nurture and harness the untapped potential of India’s youth. Our vision is to create a sustainable ecosystem that not only cultivates sporting talents but also instils a strong sense of discipline, ethics, and resilience in young athletes. This platform is an excellent stepping stone towards achieving that, and I’m thrilled to be a driving force behind such transformative change."

Over the next three days, the athletes will showcase their talents in an array of sports, including Basketball, Karate, Taekwondo, Badminton, Volleyball, Kabaddi, Table Tennis, kho kho, Football Athletics, Skating, and Cricket, dispersed across renowned venues such as Indira Gandhi Stadium and Thyagraj Stadium in Delhi, ensuring a thrilling and diverse competitive environment.

The Stairs Youth National Games offers more than just competition; they provide a nurturing arena for growth, networking, and personal development, reinforcing the foundation’s vision of empowering youth through sports. The next three days will see intense competitions, where athletes compete for medals and engage in valuable cultural exchanges and learning opportunities.

As a distinguished non-profit organisation committed to advancing sports, education, health, and skill development for children throughout India, STAIRS seeks to identify and foster young talents from grassroots levels. By furnishing a platform for exceptionally gifted young athletes from all corners of India to showcase their abilities and compete nationally, STAIRS aims to empower talented athletes to excel and lead dignified lives through sports and contribute to the emergence of more champions for the nation.  

Tags : Delhi sports, Basketball, Karate, Taekwondo, Badminton, Volleyball, Kabaddi, Table Tennis, kho kho, Football Athletics, Skating, Cricket