Tamil Nadu finished second in the medal table at the Khelo India Youth Games held in January 2024, its first podium finish in the event’s history, with 98 medals: 38 gold, 21 silver and 39 bronze. Maharashtra topped the table and Haryana came third, according to the state’s 2024-25 sports policy note.
The Games, officially the sixth edition and branded KIYG 2023, ran from 19 to 31 January 2024. It was the first time they came to South India, and Chennai did most of the hosting. Here is what the city staged, how the home team did, and what was left behind for local athletes.
The Games in numbers
Figures from the Sports Authority of India’s release before the opening and the state’s policy note:
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Dates | 19 to 31 January 2024 |
| Host cities | Chennai, Tiruchi, Madurai, Coimbatore |
| Venues | 15 (12 in Chennai, one in each other city) |
| Athletes (under-18) | Over 5,630, from 36 States and UTs |
| Sports | 26, with silambam as a demonstration sport |
| Events | 278 |
| Technical officials | 1,020 |
The state’s own closing-day release put participation at over 5,400 athletes, slightly lower than the SAI figure, and counted 1,331 team officials and about 1,900 volunteers.
Opening and closing in Chennai
Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the Games at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Periamet, on the evening of 19 January 2024, and also launched the DD Tamil channel there. The mascot was Veeramangai, and Thiruvalluvar was the symbolic figurehead. Squash made its Khelo India debut at these Games, a natural fit for a city that hosts the national squash academy.
The closing ceremony was held on 31 January 2024 at Kalaivanar Arangam on Wallajah Road, where the top three states were honoured, according to the state government’s release.
How Tamil Nadu won its 98 medals
The home state fielded about 600 athletes, its largest contingent ever. Track and pool did the heavy lifting.
| Sport | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athletics | 11 | 6 | 1 | 18 |
| Swimming | 4 | 3 | 7 | 14 |
| Cycling | 5 | 1 | 6 | 12 |
| Weightlifting | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| Squash | 3 | 0 | 4 | 7 |
| Tennis | 4 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Fencing | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| Yogasana | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
The remaining medals came from mallakhamb, boxing, shooting, basketball, badminton, kabaddi, volleyball, judo and kalaripayattu. SDAT sports hostel trainees won five gold, two silver and two bronze. Athletes backed by the Tamil Nadu Champions Foundation, a sponsorship body set up by SDAT, won eight medals, five of them gold.
Stories beyond the medal table
The closing-day release from the state highlighted a few side stories. About 15 fencers from Manipur, whose training had been disrupted at home, had been training in Tamil Nadu since June 2023 with state support. Two of them, Huiningshumbam Bala Chanu and Sanjenbam Bicky, won bronze medals for Manipur at these Games. The 2024-25 policy note records that the Champions Foundation spent about ₹25.66 lakh supporting 27 Manipur fencers and boxers.
The release also noted that many national and Games records fell during the fortnight. At the closing, the then state government announced a plan to distribute sports kits to 12,000 rural panchayats, with a launch set for Tiruchi on 7 February 2024. Any successor scheme under the present government should be checked on the sports department’s site.
The legacy for Chennai’s athletes
The main physical legacy in Chennai is at Nehru Stadium, where the synthetic athletics track was renovated for the Games, according to the policy note. District sports complexes in Madurai and Tiruchi were also upgraded. These are the same facilities used by state sports hostel trainees and by the public through SDAT memberships.
The Games also gave silambam, Tamil Nadu’s stick-fighting art, a national stage as the demonstration sport. And they built organising experience: Chennai went on to host the National Para Athletics Championship at the same stadium in February 2025.
For young athletes, Khelo India itself continues every year in a different state. Its scheme offers selected athletes an annual scholarship of ₹6.28 lakh covering coaching, diet, kit, insurance and an allowance, the SAI release said. Selection comes through performance at national-level events, including the Youth Games.
Quick answers
When did Tamil Nadu host the Khelo India Youth Games?
From 19 to 31 January 2024. The edition is officially called KIYG 2023.
Where did Tamil Nadu finish?
Second, with 98 medals (38 gold), behind Maharashtra and ahead of Haryana.
Which venues in Chennai were used?
Twelve venues in the city, with the opening at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and the closing at Kalaivanar Arangam.
Was silambam a medal sport?
No. It was a demonstration sport at the 2024 Games.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
