Over 1,200 players from across 20 states and union territories of the country will participate in the first-of-its-kind multi- sports beach games in Diu, beginning today.
Players will compete in eight sports on the picturesque Ghoghla beach in Diu, which is a blue flag-certified beach.
The logo and website for the ‘Diu Beach Games’ were unveiled by Praful Patel last week, who is the the administrator of the union territory.
The week-long extravaganza will showcase competitions in volleyball, pencak silat, beach soccer, mallakhamb, beach kabaddi, sea swimming, and tug of war.
Speaking to a source, Arun Gupta, Director of Sports and Youth Affairs Diu, Daman and Dadra Nagar Haveli said, “This will be first of its kind multi-sports beach game being organised in India.”
National federations governing all eight sports are actively engaged, with numerous national-level athletes vying for top honors. Participants are exclusively under the age of 21″, he added.
The event’s logo elegantly portrays the essence of Diu and Daman, featuring a lighthouse set against a backdrop of the sea. The endearing mascot, ‘Perl,’ a dolphin representing the abundant marine life near Diu, adds charm to the event’s identity.
The Diu administration has outlined its vision, “By providing a premier platform for national-level competitions, our objective is to offer athletes a challenging and prestigious arena, fostering a culture of excellence and sportsmanship.”
Patel, while launching the games logo had said, “This games will attract local people as well as tourists which will boost the local economy.”