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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Commercial LPG price hike 'direct blow' to common man: CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the union government over the recent hike in commercial LPG cylinder prices, calling it a "direct blow" to the common man and warning that rising fuel and tax burdens were quietly fuelling inflation and hurting livelihoods.
In a post on social media platform X, the Chief Minister said the increase would severely impact tea shops, darshinis (Quick service restaurants), small hotels, bakeries and street vendors, who depend heavily on commercial LPG, and accused the Centre of pursuing selective economic logic while burdening citizens.
"The recent hike in commercial LPG cylinder prices by about Rs 111 is a direct blow to the common man. Tea shops, small hotels, bakeries and street vendors depend on commercial LPG. When its price rises, food becomes costlier, livelihoods suffer and inflation quietly enters every household," Siddaramaiah said.
Responding to the Union government's explanation that the LPG price rise was due to an increase in Saudi Contract Prices (CP), the Chief Minister questioned the inconsistency in fuel pricing.
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"The Union Government now argues that LPG prices have increased due to the rise in Saudi Contract Prices (CP). If that is the logic, an important question must be answered honestly by Narendra Modi on why have petrol and diesel prices not been reduced when global crude oil prices have been consistently falling?" he asked.
Siddaramaiah pointed out that while Saudi CP may fluctuate, global crude oil prices, the primary input for petrol and diesel, have softened. "Yet petrol and diesel prices remain unchanged, burdening citizens while generating record revenues. This selective application of 'international price logic' raises serious concerns," he said.
The CM also flagged what he described as fiscal injustice towards states, alleging that Karnataka contributes far more to the national exchequer than it receives in return.
"Karnataka contributes 4.5 to 5 lakh crore every year to the national exchequer, but receives barely Rs 60,000 crore in return, often delayed. This is not cooperative federalism, it is fiscal imbalance," he claimed.
He further criticised the Centre over rising railway fares, additional cesses and surcharges outside the GST framework, and what he termed as the shifting of welfare responsibilities to states.
Referring to the VB-G RAM G Act, Siddaramaiah said states were now being forced to bear nearly 40 per cent of the cost, increasing their financial burden.
"India cannot be built by squeezing its workers, taxing its poor, and weakening its States. Economic governance must be rooted in fairness, transparency and compassion, not selective justifications," he said, adding "a strong nation respects its people, empowers its States, and ensures growth is shared fairly."
