The fifth edition of the Khelo India Youth Games will be held in Madhya Pradesh from 31 January to 11 February 2023. The announcement to this effect was  made by the Union Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur in the presence of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Delhi today.

Also present in the event were Minister of State, Youth Affairs and Sports, Nisith Pramanik; Minister of Sports and Youth Welfare, Govt of Madhya Pradesh, Yashodhara Raje Scindia; Secretary Sports, Sujata Chaturvedi; Director General, Sports Authority of India, Sandip Pradhan.

The upcoming edition of the Khelo India Youth Games will feature a total of 27 disciplines. Water sports being included for the first time in the history of the Games. New disciplines like canoe slalom, kayaking, canoeing and rowing will also feature alongside the usual sports and the indigenous games.

Fencing will also be part of the Khelo India Youth Games for the first time. Five indigenous games namely Mallakhamb Yogasana, Kalaripayyattu, Thang Ta and
Gatka which were added in the last edition of Khelo India Youth Games held in Haryana will also be part of this edition.

The Games will take place across eight cities of Madhya Pradesh and in Delhi. The eight MP cities are: Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Mandla, Khargone (Maheshwar) and Balaghat.

Around 6000 athletes from 36 States/ UTs, 1500 general volunteers, 1000 sports specific volunteers, 1500 technical officials i.e., a total of 9000 participants are expected to participate in the Games which would be live telecast on Star Sports &  OTT platforms.