Youth Olympics 2026: Syndrela, Tanvi Patri to lead Indian charge – Complete Indian squad

The Games will run until November 13, and India is set to compete in 11 sports. Around 2,700 athletes from 207 delegations are expected to participate across 25 disciplines.

Syndrela, 17, recently gained valuable international exposure at the Asian Games in Japan, where she competed in the women’s team and doubles events. The Indian women’s team reached the quarter-finals, while Syndrela and Sreeja Akula made it to the round of 16 in doubles.

Dhinidhi, meanwhile, continues to emerge as one of India’s promising young swimmers. She won gold in the 200m freestyle at the 2026 Asian Age Group Championships in Bangkok, where she also set a national record.

Another young paddler, Sarthak Arya, is eager to make the most of the opportunity, viewing the Youth Olympics as a stepping stone towards bigger ambitions.

"The Youth Olympics will be a stepping-stone in my journey. I dream of representing India at the Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad in 2030 and then at the Olympic Games in Brisbane in 2032. Looking further ahead, if India gets the opportunity to host the Olympic Games in 2036, competing at home and hopefully winning an Olympic medal for my country would be truly special,” said Sarthak.

The Youth Olympic Games provide a platform for young talents to gain experience at the international level. The eligibility is generally restricted to athletes aged 15 to 18, depending on the sport and event regulations.

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president P T Usha underlined the importance of the Games in preparing the next generation of athletes for major international competitions.

"Dakar 2026 is an important milestone for our young athletes. They represent the future of Indian sport, and among them may be the champions who will represent India at Brisbane 2032 and beyond.

"Hosting the first Olympic event on the African continent is a historic moment for the Olympic Movement, and we look forward to sharing this landmark occasion with Senegal and the wider Olympic community," she added.

Indian Squad

Avinash Shourya (Women's 100m Hurdles), Antra (Women's beach wrestling 65kg), Anuj(Men's beach wrestling 70kg), Khushbu Rajakbhai (Women's judo 63kg), Syndrela Das (Women's table tennis singles), Dhinidhi Desinghu (Women's 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 200m IM), Gunjan (Women's boxing 48kg), Gatha Khadke (Women's archery individual), Deepanshu Khokhar (Men's beach wrestling 80kg), Lairenlakpama Ambekar (Men's boxing 50kg), Sresht Raju (Men's equestrian jumping individual), Priyanshi Patil (Women's windsurfing), Tanvi Patri (Women's badminton singles), Tirthank Pegu (Men's 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly), Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu (Women's Changquan combined), Ruparelia Dev (Men's badminton singles), Taniya (Women's Beach wrestling 75kg)