The National Games officially began after a grand opening ceremony on Thursday at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Gujarat will be hosting the National Games officially from October 29. Double Olympic Medallist PV Sindhu, and Olympic Gold Medallist Neeraj was also present at the Opening Ceremony.
The sports will be commencing on October 30 and continue till October 12. A total of 7000 athletes from 28 states and 8 union territories with the Services – sports team of the Indian Armed Forces will participate.
Singers like Shankar Mahadevan, Mohit Chauhan, Bhumik Shah, Ishani Dabe performed in the opening ceremony. Post this, PM Narendra Modi declared the opening of the National Games Open. Along with this he even inaugurated Gujarat’s Sports University.
The PM said, “Respect in the world has a direct connection with sports. Most of the countries that are on top in the world in development and economy today also top the medals table. The strong performance of the players in the field of play encourages other areas as well. Sports is also a source of ‘soft power’ in the world.”
After the flag-bearing ceremony, the player’s march past that represented their respective states and union territories.
Cultural performances continued that left the spectators in awe.
The National Games 2022 will be telecasted live on the DD Sports TV channel in India.
Viewers can watch the National games 2022 Live on the Prasar Bharati Sports YouTube Channel.
The tournament is returning after 7 long years. The event started first as a table tennis competition which took place between September 20 to 24. The games will be taking place in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, and Bhavnagar. The track cycling even will be taking place in Delhi.
Events
Aquatics, archery, Indian archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, beach sports, boxing, canoeing, cycling, fencing, football, golf, gymnastics, hockey, judo, kabaddi, kho kho, lawn bowls, mallakhambh, netball, roller sports, rowing, rugby 7s, shooting, soft tennis, softball, squash, table tennis, tennis, triathlon, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, wushu and yogasana.
Schedule
| Sport | City | Venue | Dates |
| Archery | Ahmedabad | Sanskardham Venue 1 | September 30 to October 6 |
| Kho-Kho | Ahmedabad | Sanskardham Venue 2 | September 30 to October 4 |
| Mallakhambh | Ahmedabad | Sanskardham Venue 2 | October 7 to 11 |
| Rugby 7s | Ahmedabad | Transtadia Football Ground | September 28 to 30 |
| Football (Men) | Ahmedabad | Transtadia Football Ground | October 2 to 11 |
| Football (Women) | Ahmedabad | Shahibagh Police Ground | October 1 to 10 |
| Kabaddi | Ahmedabad | EKA Transtadia | September 26 to October 1 |
| Yogasana | Ahmedabad | EKA Transtadia | October 6 to 11 |
| Rowing | Ahmedabad | Sabarmati Venue 1 | September 30 to October 3 |
| Canoeing | Ahmedabad | Sabarmati Venue 1 | October 10 and 11 |
| RS – Skateboarding | Ahmedabad | Sabarmati Venue 3 | September 30 and October 1 |
| RS – Inline Skating | Ahmedabad | Sabarmati Venue 3 | September 30 and October 1 |
| RS – Speed Skating | Ahmedabad | Sabarmati Venue 3 | September 30 to October 2 |
| RS – Artistic Skating | Ahmedabad | Sabarmati Venue 3 | September 30 and October 1 |
| Tennis | Ahmedabad | Sabarmati Venue 4 | September 29 to October 5 |
| Soft Tennis | Ahmedabad | Sabarmati Venue 4 | October 7 to 11 |
| Lawn Bowl | Ahmedabad | Kensville Golf and Country Club | September 26 to October 3 |
| Golf | Ahmedabad | Kensville Golf and Country Club | October 6 to 9 |
| Shooting (Shotgun) | Ahmedabad | Crowne Academy | September 30 to October 7 |
| Shooting | Ahmedabad | Rifle Club | September 29 to October 3 |
| Cycling (Road) | Gandhinagar | CHH Road | October 8 and 9 |
| Weightlifting | Gandhinagar | Mahatma Mandir Venue 1 | September 30 to October 4 |
| Judo | Gandhinagar | Mahatma Mandir Venue 1 | October 7 to 11 |
| Fencing | Gandhinagar | Mahatma Mandir Venue 2 | September 30 to October 4 |
| Wushu | Gandhinagar | Mahatma Mandir Venue 2 | October 8 to 11 |
| Boxing | Gandhinagar | Mahatma Mandir Venue 3 | October 5 to 12 |
| Wrestling | Gandhinagar | Mahatma Mandir Venue 3 | September 30 to October 2 |
| Triathlon | Gandhinagar | IIT Gandhinagar | September 30 to October 2 |
| Squash | Gandhinagar | IIT Gandhinagar Courts | October 1 to 5 |
| Athletics | Gandhinagar | IIT Gandhinagar Ground | September 30 to October 4 |
| Softball | Gandhinagar | IIT Gandhinagar Ground | October 7 to 11 |
| Beach Handball | Surat | Dumas Beach | September 30 to October 4 |
| Beach Volleyball | Surat | Dumas Beach | October 6 to 9 |
| Table Tennis | Surat | PDDU Indoor Stadium | September 20 to 24 |
| Badminton | Surat | PDDU Indoor Stadium | October 1 to 6 |
| Gymnastics | Vadodara | Sama Sports Complex | September 30 to October 4 |
| Handball | Vadodara | Sama Sports Complex | October 7 to 12 |
| Aquatics | Rajkot | Sardar Patel Complex | October 2 to 8 |
| Hockey | Rajkot | Saurashtra U & DC Ground 1, 2 | October 2 to 9 |
| Netball | Bhavnagar | MPH, SAG | September 26 to 30 |
| Basketball 3×3 | Bhavnagar | Outdoor Courts, SAG | October 1 to 3 |
| Basketball 5×5 | Bhavnagar | Outdoor Courts, SAG | October 1 to 6 |
| Volleyball | Bhavnagar | MPH, SAG | October 8 to 12 |
| Cycling (Track) | New Delhi | Velodrome | October 1 to 4 |
Read more: India and Pakistan to have their bilateral series in England?
