🏅 The Ambedkar National Games – Overview

Introduction

The Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Games is a flagship multi-sport initiative of the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Sports Foundation, established in 2013 with the vision of promoting equality, unity, and empowerment through sports.
The Games serve as a national platform for emerging athletes, particularly from rural, tribal, and economically weaker sections of society, to display their talents and participate in national integration through sporting excellence.

Over the years, the Games have evolved into a prestigious and inclusive sports event, conducted annually in collaboration with affiliated national federations, educational institutions, and sports bodies across India.

1️⃣ 2013 – 1st Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Games

Date & Venue: 17–19 December 2013, Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi
Participants: 578 Athletes
Disciplines: Yoga, Chess, Rope-Skipping, Karate, Kiaido, Jomsar, and Taekwondo
Participating States: Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Assam, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir

Overview:
The inaugural edition of the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Games marked the beginning of a new national movement promoting “Sports for Equality and Empowerment.” The event successfully gathered athletes from 13 states, focusing on both traditional and modern martial art disciplines.

2️⃣ 2014 – 2nd Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Games

Date & Venue:

  • 07–10 October 2014, Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi
  • 12–15 October 2014, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Goa
  • Participants: 1,103 Athletes
  • Disciplines: Armsports, Chess, Full Contact, Karate, Kiaido, Kung-Fu, Rope-Skipping, Taekwondo, Yoga, Futsal, and Tennis-ball Cricket
  • Participating States: Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Maharashtra, Chandigarh, Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Delhi, J&K, Jharkhand, Goa, Manipur, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, and Chhattisgarh

Overview:
The second edition expanded the scale and diversity of participation, attracting over a thousand athletes from 21 states and introducing team sports like Futsal and Tennis-ball Cricket for the first time.

3️⃣ 2016 – 3rd Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Games

Date & Venue:

  • 01–05 May 2016, Commonwealth Games Sports Complex, New Delhi
  • 01–05 August 2016, Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi
  • Participants: 1,750 Athletes
  • Disciplines: Archery, Armsports, Chess, Athletics, Rope-Skipping, Silambam, Tennis-ball Cricket, Yoga, Boxing, Full Contact, Judo, Karate, Taekwondo, and Wrestling
  • Participating States: Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Assam, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya

Overview:
The third edition was a milestone in terms of participation and organization, with more than 1,700 athletes competing across 14 sporting disciplines. It strengthened the Games’ reputation as a truly national-level multi-sport platform.

4️⃣ 2018 – 4th Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Games

Date & Venue:

  • 01–05 February 2018, Subharti University, Meerut (U.P.)
  • 08–09 December 2018, CCS University, Meerut (U.P.)
  • Participants: 600 Athletes
  • Disciplines: Athletics, Kabaddi, Cricket, Football, Tennis, and Wrestling
  • Participating States: Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Haryana, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, and Gujarat

Overview:
The fourth edition shifted focus to university-level sports and mass participation. Conducted in partnership with two major universities, it promoted youth involvement and academic integration in sports development.

5️⃣ 2023 – 5th Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Games

Date & Venue: 30 November – 04 December 2023, Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, New Delhi
Participants: 550 Athletes
Disciplines: Yoga, Rope-Skipping, Arm-wrestling, Karate, Taekwondo, Bodybuilding, Grappling/Wrestling, Silambam, Kickboxing, Tang Soo Do, and Darts

Overview:
After the pandemic hiatus, the Games returned with renewed enthusiasm. The 2023 edition highlighted both modern and traditional martial arts, emphasizing health, fitness, and youth leadership through sports.

6️⃣ 2024 – 6th Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Games

Date & Venue: 26–28 July 2024, Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi
Participants: 350 Athletes from 25 States and UTs
Disciplines: Yoga, Rope-Skipping, Arm-wrestling, Karate, Taekwondo, Bodybuilding, Grappling/Wrestling, Silambam, Kickboxing, and Tang Soo Do

Overview:
The sixth edition expanded participation from 25 states and introduced upgraded facilities and athlete support programs. It reinforced the Foundation’s mission to integrate traditional and modern sports disciplines under one national banner.

7️⃣ 2025 – 7th Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Games

Date & Venue: 16–18 May 2025, Talkatora Indoor Stadium, New Delhi
Expected Participation: Over 30 States and UTs
Disciplines: Yoga, Rope-Skipping, Arm-wrestling, Karate, Taekwondo, Bodybuilding, Grappling/Wrestling, Silambam, Kickboxing, and Tang Soo Do

Overview:
The upcoming 7th edition will continue the legacy of excellence with wider state participation and enhanced technical standards. The 2025 Games aim to set new benchmarks in sports management, inclusivity, and performance.

🏆 Legacy and Impact

Since its inception in 2013, the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Games has provided thousands of athletes an opportunity to compete, connect, and grow. The Games embody the principles of equality, empowerment, and education through sports, aligning with Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s vision of nation-building through human development.