Big blow to India as shooting, hockey out of 2026 Youth Olympics
New Delhi, Dec 5: In a big blow to India's medal prospects, the executive board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has dropped shooting, weightlifting and hockey from the roster of medal sports for the much-delayed 2026 Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal.
Shooting, weightlifting and hockey have been named among 10 non-medal sports, which will be part of the "engagement programme" in the YOG.
In the 2018 Youth Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, India had won 13 medals (3 gold, 9 silver and 1 bronze), out of which shooting had given 4 medals (2 gold and 2 silver), while hockey's share was 2 silver and weightlifting's contribution was one gold.
Paris Olympics double-medallist star shooter Manu Bhaker had won a gold in the girls' 10m air pistol and a silver in mixed 10m air pistol.
In its meeting in Lausanne on December 3, the IOC executive board has confirmed the events and athlete quotas for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) to be held from October 31 to November 13, 2026. The Youth Olympics are to be competed among athletes aged between 15 and 18.
"... it was decided to maintain the official involvement of all 35 International Federations (IFs) in Dakar 2026, with 25 sports featuring on the competition programme and 10 to be part of the engagement programme.
"Dakar 2026 will showcase one discipline from each of the 25 sports on the competition programme. Additionally, Dakar 2026 will feature an engagement programme that will showcase 10 sports," the IOC said on its website.
The 25 sports in which medals will be given are athletics (track and field), aquatics (swimming), archery, badminton, baseball (baseball 5), basketball (3x3), boxing, breaking, cycling (road cycling), equestrian (jumping), fencing, football (futsal), gymnastics (artistic), handball (beach handball), judo, rowing (coastal rowing), rugby (rugby sevens), sailing, skateboarding (street), table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, volleyball (beach volleyball), wrestling (beach wrestling), and wushu.
In the 2018 YOG, Simran Kaur had won a silver in the girl's freestyle 43kg but the 2026 edition will have only beach wrestling.
The 10 non-medal sports which will feature in the engagement programme are canoe-kayak, golf, hockey, karate, modern pentathlon, shooting, sport climbing, surfing, tennis and weightlifting.
"These sports will not feature in the competition programme but will be promoted through interactive activities on site and via digital platforms, emphasising their role as integral components and an official part of the YOG," the IOC said.
In total, the Dakar YOG will feature 151 events -- down from the 241 for the 2018 Buenos Aires edition -- equally split between men and women with 72 events for each, alongside seven mixed-gender events.
"For the first time in the history of the Summer YOG, full gender equality will be achieved – not only in the overall athlete quota but also across every sport, discipline and event," the IOC said.
The total athlete quota for the Games has been set at 2,700.
"This aligns with the IOC's commitment to delivering a tailored and efficient programme while maintaining the elite nature of the competition. It will allow the Games to adapt to the local context of Dakar, yet still ensure a competitive platform for young athletes worldwide," said the IOC.
Originally scheduled to be held in 2022 from October 22 to November 9, the 2026 YOG -- the fourth edition of the Summer Youth Games -- was delayed by four years in view of the operational and economical consequences of the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2026 YOG will be held across three host sites -- Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly -- in the Senegal capital.
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Siddaramaiah, I will abide by Cong high command decision on leadership issue, says Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday said both he and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will abide by any decision takeb by the Congress high command on the leadership issue in the state.
Speaking to reporters after returning from Delhi, the Congress state president said, he has full faith in the party leadership and that it would take an approapriate decision at the appropriate time.
The remarks comes amid speculations within the party and political circles about a possible leadership change and cabinet reshuffle after May 4, when the results for assembly elections in four states and one union territory, along with bypolls to two assembly segments in the Karnataka are announced.
"I will not speak about political issues before the media. I have already said that when the time comes you will get to know. So I will not tell you," Shivakumar said in response to a question on discussions with the Congress high command during his Delhi visit over the last couple of days.
He asserted that there are no issues within the party, and whatever has been already decided will take place accordingly.
Responding to a question on senior Minister Satish Jarkiholi's reported statement about internal differences, the Deputy CM said, "nothing like that, they (high command) will do what they have to do at the appropriate time."
"There are no issues, we have faith in our party, they will do what they have to," he added.
Asked about the issue of leadership change as the government is about to complete three years in office, Shivakumar said, "... I have never discussed this issue. The CM and I have both said that we will accept whatever and whenever the high command decides, and we will abide by it."
He declined to comment when asked whether any "good news" can be expected by his birthday on May 15.
The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change of chief minister after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025. The speculation has been fuelled by the reported "power-sharing" arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the time of government formation in 2023.
Responding to a question on the BJP's criticism against the Congress government over its decision on internal reservation for Scheduled Castes, alleging injustice to several communities and questioning its intent behind the revised quota formula, Shivakumar said the BJP could not do anything on internal reservation while in power, but the Congress has kept its promise.
"We have found a solution and tried to do justice to all sections among SCs. We have fulfilled the promise made and every one should go together," he said.
Shivakumar warned his party workers against erecting flex banners for his birthday on May 15.
"For May 15, I want to tell everyone that no one should put up flex banners or advertisements for my birthday. If flex are installed I will ensure that cases are registered by authorities against those responsible, whether they are party workers or followers....no one should put such things on roads, this is my personal request," he said, adding that he has asked commissioners of the city corporations to register cases and impose heavy fines.
