Om Prakash Karhana named chef-de-mission for India’s Youth Olympics contingent

FILE PHOTO: Former shot-putter Om Prakash Karhana has been named chef-de-mission of the 35-member Indian contingent at Dakar 2026. This is an action image of Karhana from 2011. | Photo Credit: AP

Asian Championships gold-winning former shot-putter Om Prakash Karhana has been named chef-de-mission of the 35-member Indian contingent, including 17 athletes, for the Youth Olympic Games beginning on Saturday in Dakar, Senegal.

The 39-year-old Karhana, who is an outgoing member of the Indian Olympic Association’s athletes commission, had earlier served as the Safeguarding Officer of the Indian contingent at last year’s Asian Youth Games.

The Sports Ministry has approved a support staff of 12 coaches, four physios, and one doctor for the 17 athletes (six male and 11 female), who will represent India in 11 disciplines during the Games that will run till November 13.

Overall, around 2,700 athletes from 207 countries are expected to participate across 25 disciplines in the Games for the age group of 15 to 18.

For India, this is the smallest contingent of athletes to travel for the Games that began in 2010. India’s best performance came in the previous edition that was held in 2018, when the country won 13 medals, including three gold, nine silver and one bronze.