Shillong, Aug 13: The list of Olympic and non-Olympic sports to be included in the National Games 2027, which Meghalaya will host, will be tentatively announced in September or October, Meghalaya State Olympic Association Working President John F Kharshiing announced late last night.
Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha, the renowned former athlete, is also likely to visit Shillong next month to discuss matters related to the 39th National Games 2027 with the Meghalaya government and MSOA.
Kharshiing and MSOA General Secretary Finely L Pariat were informed of this yesterday at a meeting at Olympic Bhavan in New Delhi with IOA CEO Raghuram Iyer and Usha’s Executive Assistant, Capt Ajay Narang.
During the discussions, the Meghalaya officials were told that the IOA will provide tentative inputs and guidance regarding disciplines, with the Indian governing body placing greater emphasis on sports that are part of the Olympic programme.
Meghalaya will want to include certain sports that it would have a better chance at getting medals in, such as karate. While karate was an event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (Japan being the home of the martial art) it was not included in the 2024 Paris Games and nor will it feature in 2028.
Then there are ‘Indian’ sports like kabaddi, kho kho and yogasana. These are also non-Olympic disciplines and have little to no following in Meghalaya but the organisers might be impressed upon to include them as they are national pastimes.
