Why have India sent just 17 athletes to Youth Olympics 2026?

India have sent 17 athletes to Dakar Youth Olympics because organisers cut competitive sports from 35 to 25, dropping shooting, hockey and weightlifting, which brought seven of India’s 13 medals in 2018. The athlete quota at the Games has also shrunk from around 4,000 in 2018 to 2,700 in 2026. A passport problem involving an athlete further reduced India's contingent.