The first-ever Khelo India Water Sports Festival is set to be held at the iconic Dal Lake in Srinagar from August 21-23.
More than 400 athletes from 36 states and Union Territories are expected to take part at the event which is a part of the Khelo India sports initiative by the Indian government.
Three medal events will take part at the Khelo India Water Sports Festival in Srinagar. They are rowing, kayaking and canoeing.
In addition, three demonstration sports will be held including water skiing, dragon boat race, and the crowd-favourite shikara sprint.
Khelo India Water Sports Festival: List of Sports
Medal events
- Rowing
- Kayaking
- Canoeing
Medal events
- Water skiing
- Dragon boat race
- Shikara sprint
“This is not just an event — it is the beginning of a new era for water sports in our country. On behalf of all athletes, I extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, and the entire Khelo India team for making water sports a priority and giving it the recognition it truly deserves,” said Bilquis Mir, a renowned figure in canoeing and kayaking and an Olympic judge.
The Dal Lake is an iconic landmark in Srinagar attracting a large number of tourists daily. The Khelo India event is set to boost the tourism of the valley even further and bring people together for water sports.
The Khelo India Water Sports festival will be the fifth Khelo India event in 2025 following the Khelo India Winter Games in Ladakh and J&K, the Para Games in Delhi, the Khelo India Youth Games in Bihar and Delhi, and most recently, the Beach Games held in the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.
Launched in 2017-18, Khelo India promotes grassroots sports culture, talent identification, structured competitions and infrastructure development across the country.
Also Read: Khelo India University Games 2025 To Be Held In Jaipur
Khelo India Games Calendar
- Khelo India Winter Games
- Khelo India Para Games (March)
- Khelo India Youth Games (May)
- Khelo India Beach Games (May)
- Khelo India School Games (August to December)
- Khelo India University Games (March–April)
- Khelo India Water Sports (May–June)
- Khelo India North-East Games (May–June)
- Khelo India Tribal Games (September in Chhattisgarh)
- Khelo India Indigenous and Martial Art Games (July–August in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh)
