Reference:

• The 7th edition of Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2025 was held in Bihar from May 4th to May 15th, 2025.

Key Highlights:

Host Venue and Dates:

• Host State: Bihar (first time)
• Cities: Patna, Rajgir, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, and New Delhi (for some sports)
• Dates: May 4th to May 15th, 2025

Participation and Sports:

• Participants: Approximately 5,000-6,000 young athletes from 36 states and union territories
• Number of Sports:

• • 27 Competitive Sports (e.g., Athletics, Archery, Badminton)
  • 1 Demonstration Sport (E-sports: BGMI, Street Fighter 6, Chess, E-Football)
  • Traditional Sport: Thang-Ta (Manipuri martial art) saw Bihar win its first gold medal.

Bihar's Historic Performance:

• Medal Tally: 7 Gold, 11 Silver, 18 Bronze (Total 36 medals)
• Growth: 620% medal increase compared to 2023 (only 5 medals in 2023)
• Ranking: 15th position, surpassing Jharkhand

Event Features:

• Mascot: "Gajsimha" (a combination of elephant and lion), representing the cultural heritage of Bihar
• Logo: Designed with the theme "Khel Ke Rang Bihar Ke Sang" (The colors of sports with Bihar)
• Organization: Joint initiative of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, Indian Olympic Association (IOA), and the Government of Bihar

Bihar's Hosting and Future Plans:

• Facilities: Facilities for track cycling and shooting were organized in New Delhi due to their unavailability in Bihar.
• Future: Bihar has planned to build sports villages and develop international-level facilities to host the National Games in 2030.

Main Results:

• Maharashtra won the championship with the highest number of medals, 158, including 58 gold and 47 silver medals.
• Haryana secured the second position with 117 medals (39 gold, 27 silver), while Rajasthan achieved the third position with 60 medals (24 gold, 12 silver).

Special Mentions:

• In Boys' Basketball, Uttar Pradesh defeated Rajasthan to win the gold medal, and in Girls' Basketball, Karnataka defeated Haryana.
• Haryana won 7 gold, 2 silver, and 3 bronze medals in Fencing. New records were set in Weightlifting, 400m race, and 100m sprint.

Top 10 States/Union Territories:

Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG):

• Inception Year: 2018
• Inception Venue: Indira Gandhi Arena, New Delhi
• Launch: By Prime Minister Narendra Modi
• Former Name: Khelo India School Games (2018)
• Name Change: Renamed Khelo India Youth Games in 2019
• Level of Organization: National level multi-disciplinary sports competition
• Target Group: School and college students
• Competition Categories:

• • Under 17 years of age school students
  • Under 21 years of age college students

Khelo India App:

• Launch Year: 2019
• Objective: To promote sports and fitness, provide information about sports events, and inspire a healthy lifestyle

Top States/UTs from 2018 to 2025:

• Maharashtra has won the Khelo India Youth Games the most number of times since 2018.
• Maharashtra has secured the top position a total of 5 times (2019, 2020, 2023, 2024, 2025).
• Haryana has won 3 times (2018, 2021, 2022).