Panaji: The opening ceremony of the 37th National Games is likely to be held earlier than expected.
While sports minister Govind Gaude had told the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) that Goa will be ready to host the opening ceremony anywhere between November 1 to November 10 later this year, depending on the availability of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Games are now expected to commence in October.

“A lot of athletes, and officials of the IOA, want the National Games to conclude at least two days before Diwali,” a senior official told TOI on Wednesday.
Gaude met a delegation from the Goa Olympic Association and confirmed that plans are to conclude the Games before the Diwali festival. Diwali is scheduled for November 12 this year. The Games require two weeks for completion.

“The exact dates will be announced in consultation with IOA and the central government,” the GOA said in a statement.
The National Games in Goa are expected to be the biggest ever with 37 disciplines getting the nod so far. Should the IOA agree, five more disciplines – yoga, mallakhamb, lagori, sqay martial arts and pencak silat – will be added on Goa’s request to make it a medal sport.

“The minister was optimistic that Goa should participate in all sports disciplines. He emphasised the importance of the National Games for Goa and the need for the state to allocate funds to prepare Goan athletes to win medals and bring laurels to.

“As a build up to the Games, the minister expressed his desire to involve not only state sports associations but taluka and village-level clubs as well, where sports disciplines that are part of the Games could be promoted in every nook and corner and an environment created where sports becomes an integral part of the lives of people,” said GOA.

The meeting was attended by officials from the Sports Authority of Goa and the GOA, led by general secretary Gurudutta Bhakta.

Geeta Nagvenkar, SAG ED and Navin Acharya, assistant director, SAG, were in attendance, besides Irvin Soares, Raju Mangeshkar, Jayesh Naik, Siddharth Satardekar, Nisha Madgaokar and Sandeep Heble were other members of the GOA delegation.

37 disciplines so far for National Games: Aquatic, archery, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, billiards & snooker, boxing, canoeing & kayaking, cycling, equestrian, football, fencing, gymnastics, handball, hockey, judo, kabaddi, kho kho, lawn bowls, modern pentathlon, netball, rowing, rugby, sepak takraw, shooting, squash, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, volleyball, beach volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, wushu, yachting.