For the first time in its history, 98 female cadets will participate in the Sabhikhi Cup 2026, a prestigious inter-academy sports competition of the Indian Armed Forces, to be held at the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune from March 17 to March 21, 2026.
The event will bring together 429 cadets in total — 331 male and 98 female cadets — from India’s premier military training institutions, marking a significant milestone for gender inclusivity in military training.
Participation from All Major Military Academies
Cadets from the country’s top defence training institutions will compete in the event, including:
- National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune
- Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun
- Air Force Academy (AFA), Dundigal
- Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala
- Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai
- Officers Training Academy (OTA), Gaya
The Sabhikhi Cup is one of the most important sporting events among military academies, promoting physical excellence, teamwork and inter-service camaraderie.
Multiple Sporting Events
Participants will compete across several disciplines including:
- Cross-country
- Football
- Basketball
- Hockey
- Volleyball
- Squash
The overall best-performing academy will be awarded the Sabhikhi Cup Rolling Trophy, along with medals, certificates and individual awards.
Promoting Leadership and Jointmanship
According to defence officials, sports remain a vital component of military training, helping develop qualities such as discipline, resilience, teamwork and decision-making under pressure.
The participation of female cadets in this year’s competition reflects the Indian Armed Forces’ commitment to gender equality and inclusivity, while strengthening the spirit of jointmanship among future military leaders.
