SportsPosted at: Oct 30 2026 7:39PM


Karhana to lead India’s smallest-ever athlete contingent at Youth Olympic Games

New Delhi, Oct 30 (UNI) Former Asian Championships gold medallist in shot put Om Prakash Karhana has been appointed chef-de-mission of the 35-member Indian contingent for the Youth Olympic Games, which begin on Saturday in Dakar, Senegal. The contingent includes 17 athletes.
The 39-year-old Karhana is an outgoing member of the Indian Olympic Association's athletes commission. He previously served as the safeguarding officer of the Indian contingent at last year’s Asian Youth Games.
The Sports Ministry has approved 12 coaches, four physiotherapists and one doctor to support the 17 athletes, comprising six men and 11 women, who will compete in 11 disciplines at the Games. The event will run until November 13.
Around 2,700 athletes from 207 countries are expected to compete across 25 disciplines at the Games, which are open to athletes aged between 15 and 18.
India will send its smallest-ever athlete contingent to the Youth Olympic Games, which were first held in 2010. The country's best performance came at the 2018 edition, when it won 13 medals, including three gold, nine silver and one bronze.
Young table tennis player Syndrela Das and swimmer Dhinidhi Desinghu are among the prominent names in the Indian squad. Seventeen-year-old Syndrela recently competed at the Asian Games in Japan, featuring in the women's team and doubles events. The Indian women's team reached the quarter-finals, while Syndrela and Sreeja Akula advanced to the round of 16 in the doubles competition.
Dhinidhi, meanwhile, is regarded as one of India's brightest young swimming prospects. She won the 200m freestyle gold at the 2026 Asian Age Group Championships in Bangkok, where she also set a national record. She had earlier represented India at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Dhinidhi and male swimmer Tirhank Pegu will be coached by Olympian Sandeep Sejwal, who is part of India's coaching contingent for the Games.
Full list Of Indian athletes: Avinash Shourya (Women's 100m Hurdles), Antra (Women's beach wrestling 65kg), Anuj(Men's beach wrestling 70kg), Khushbu Rajakbhai (Women's judo 63kg), Syndrela Das (Women's table tennis singles), Dhinidhi Desinghu (Women's 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 200m IM), Gunjan (Women's boxing 48kg), Gatha Khadke (Women's archery individual), Deepanshu Khokhar (Men's beach wrestling 80kg), Lairenlakpama Ambekar (Men's boxing 50kg), Sresht Raju (Men's equestrian jumping individual), Priyanshi Patil (Women's windsurfing), Tanvi Patri (Women's badminton singles), Tirhank Pegu (Men's 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly), Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu (Women's Changquan combined), Ruparelia Dev (Men's badminton singles), Taniya (Women's Beach wrestling 75kg).
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Tags: #Karhana to lead India’s smallest-ever athlete contingent at Youth Olympic Games
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