The Chandigarh Sports Department has opened registrations for one of the city’s biggest annual swimming competitions, inviting young swimmers and special children to participate in a three-day tournament scheduled from August 25 to August 27, 2026. The event will take place at the All Weather Swimming Pool in Sector 23 and is expected to attract hundreds of participants from across the Union Territory, offering aspiring athletes another opportunity to showcase their talent at a competitive level.
Officials have announced that boys and girls will compete in the Under-11, Under-14, Under-17 and Under-19 age categories, while separate events will also be conducted for special children. The tournament reflects the department’s continued efforts to promote competitive sports at the grassroots level and encourage greater participation among children and teenagers.
The department has fixed August 22, 2026, as the last date for submitting entries. Participation will remain completely free, allowing students and young athletes from different backgrounds to compete without any financial burden. Sports officials believe that waiving the entry fee will help ensure wider participation and encourage promising swimmers who may otherwise hesitate to enter competitive events.
“The objective is to provide a fair competitive platform for every eligible swimmer while encouraging sporting excellence among children and youth in Chandigarh,” officials from the Sports Department said while announcing the tournament schedule.
Unlike many sporting events that have shifted to digital registration, entries for the Chandigarh Swimming Tournament will be accepted only in physical mode. Authorities have clarified that this process has been adopted to verify the credentials of every participant before confirming their eligibility.
Registration forms will be available both on the Sports Department’s official website and at designated swimming coaching centres spread across the city. Interested participants can collect forms from coaching centres located in Sector 8, the All Weather Swimming Pool Sector 23, Nursery Pool Sector 23, Sector 27, Sector 34, Sector 38 (West), Sector 39, Sector 43, Sector 50, Sector 56, Manimajra Sports Complex and Lake Club Sports Complex.
After completing the application, participants must submit the forms physically at these coaching centres. Officials have made it clear that entries sent through any other mode will not be accepted. Every application will undergo document verification before final approval.
Eligibility rules have also been clearly defined to maintain transparency in the competition. Only residents of Chandigarh or students studying in schools and colleges located within Chandigarh can participate in the tournament. To establish eligibility, applicants must produce an Aadhaar Card along with either a valid School or College Identity Card or a Bonafide Certificate issued by the concerned educational institution.
Sports administrators say the verification process has been designed to ensure that the tournament remains exclusively for eligible participants while maintaining fairness across all categories. Organisers expect schools, coaching centres and parents to complete the registration process well before the deadline to avoid last-minute inconvenience.
The annual swimming tournament has become an important fixture in Chandigarh’s sporting calendar over the years. Besides providing young athletes with competitive exposure, it also serves as a platform for coaches to identify emerging talent capable of representing Chandigarh in state and national-level championships. Many swimmers who began their journey through departmental competitions have later progressed to higher-level events, making such tournaments crucial for the city’s sporting ecosystem.
The inclusion of special children once again highlights the department’s commitment to inclusive sports and equal opportunities. By creating dedicated competitive categories, organisers aim to encourage wider participation and reinforce the message that sporting excellence should remain accessible to every aspiring athlete regardless of physical or developmental challenges.
With registrations now underway, swimming coaches across the city are expected to intensify training sessions in preparation for the competition. Parents are also likely to use the remaining weeks before the closing date to complete documentation and ensure that young swimmers are ready to compete.
As Chandigarh continues to strengthen its sports infrastructure and encourage grassroots participation, events like the upcoming swimming tournament play a significant role in nurturing future champions while promoting a culture of fitness, discipline and healthy competition among the city’s youth. The three-day championship is expected to witness enthusiastic participation from schools, coaching academies and independent swimmers, reaffirming Chandigarh’s growing reputation as an emerging hub for competitive sports.