The 39th National Games will be held in Meghalaya, expectedly in March 2027, Goa Olympic Association (G.O.A) Secretary General Sandeep Heble said. Heble and G.O.A Treasurer Jayesh Naik represented the Goa Olympic Association at the Special General Body Meeting of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) held in New Delhi on Tuesday.
The meeting was convened to consider and adopt amendments to the IOA Constitution in line with the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, and the applicable international Olympic framework. A Host State Agreement for the 39th National Games was signed between the Meghalaya Government and the IOA earlier this year, with Meghalaya designated as the lead host state. Heble said the other Northeastern states are also expected to host selected sporting disciplines in their respective territories, giving the region a wider role in the conduct of the Games.
The IOA has instructed its affiliated State Olympic Associations to align their respective constitutions with the amended IOA Constitution and the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, within the stipulated three-month period. “The GOA has already appointed a committee to undertake the required amendments to our Constitution. We will complete the exercise within the deadline and ensure that the GOA Constitution is brought in line with the IOA Constitution and the provisions of the Sports Act,” Jayesh Naik said. The constitutional reforms are part of the wider governance changes being implemented across Indian sport under the new statutory framework.
The Special General Body Meeting was followed by the official send-off ceremony for the Indian contingent for the 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026, which will be held in Japan from September 19 to October 4.
The send-off ceremony was graced by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya and Indian Olympic Association President Dr P. T. Usha, among other dignitaries. The Indian contingent will compete across a wide range of sports at the continental multi-sport event, with the country sending 503 athletes following approval by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The Asian Games send-off formed part of the day’s programme following the IOA’s constitutional meeting.
