Gandhinagar: Dharoi in north Gujarat is emerging as the likely venue for South Asia’s first full Ironman Triathlon, as the state government develops the site into a sustainable adventure tourism hub. Officials from Yoksa, the organisation that conducts endurance sporting events, met state representatives in Gandhinagar on Wednesday to review potential locations for hosting the prestigious race.

Confirming the development, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi said in an X post: “Productive joint meeting today with Sports, Tourism and Ironman Team India on the planning for Dharoi as a proposed venue for a full Ironman. Gujarat continues to aim higher in sports excellence!”

According to state officials, hosting a full Ironman Triathlon in Gujarat would significantly boost the state’s profile as a premier sporting destination ahead of the 2030 Commonwealth Games, which Ahmedabad will host. It is noteworthy that if Dharoi is finalised as the venue, it will be the first full Ironman Triathlon in South Asia.

Notably, half Ironman events have previously been held in Goa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

A full Ironman Triathlon spans three days and covers 226 km, including a 3.8-km swim, a 180-km cycling segment and a 42.2-km marathon. It is learnt that Yoksa officials have shortlisted Dharoi after reviewing other options and indicated that they will need at least a year to prepare the route, meaning the event may take place in December 2026 or early 2027.

Furthermore, the government is also considering organising a 30-day sports festival at the Dharoi Dam site to establish it as a permanent destination for major sporting events. DeshGujarat