Aadhav Arjuna Urges Centre to Host 2029 National Games in Tamil Nadu

On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, Tamil Nadu State Sports Minister Aadhav Arjuna officially urged the Union Government of India to permit the state to host the 2029 National Games, highlighting Chennai's and the wider state's readiness.

During a high-level meeting held in Delhi, Aadhav called on the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya. The state sports minister submitted a detailed memorandum to Mandaviya, highlighting Tamil Nadu's established track record of successfully hosting major national and international sporting events.

Aadhav stated that granting Tamil Nadu the opportunity to host the 2029 National Games would create a lasting infrastructure legacy. He added that the event would significantly boost the state’s overall sporting ecosystem, helping to develop local athletes and modern facilities.

The memorandum presented by Aadhav also outlined several other key infrastructure demands for the state. Pointing to Tamil Nadu’s extensive 1,076-kilometre coastline, the sports minister requested the establishment of a national centre of excellence for beach sports in the Nagapattinam district. He explained that Nagapattinam is uniquely suited for such a facility due to its coastal landscape and the high availability of local sporting talent.

Additionally, Aadhav requested the central government's support in setting up an international-standard indoor cycling velodrome. He also proposed the creation of a national cycling high-performance centre, with both of these specialized cycling facilities to be located in Coimbatore.

Finally, the sports minister urged the Centre to expand the Khelo India ecosystem by setting up new sports centres across the state. Under this proposal, Aadhav requested that the central government establish these centres in a manner that ensures at least two priority sports disciplines are covered in every single district of Tamil Nadu.