The 7th Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2025, held from May 4 to May 15, marked a significant milestone in India’s sports history. Hosted across five cities in Bihar—Patna, Rajgir, Gaya, Bhagalpur, and Begusarai—this edition showcased the nation’s emerging athletic talent and Bihar’s commitment to sports development. The Times of India+2Wikipedia+2Drishti IAS+2

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🏟️ Event Overview

• Duration: May 4–15, 2025
• Participants: Over 8,500 athletes from 36 states and union territories
• Sports Disciplines: 28, including traditional Indian sports and a demonstration of esports
• Mascot: Gajasimha, symbolizing strength and courage, inspired by Bihar’s cultural heritage
• Inauguration: Virtually inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna RedditWikipedia+7Wikipedia+7Galaxy Classes+7

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🥇 Top Performing States

1. Maharashtra: Topped the medal tally with 158 medals (58 Gold, 47 Silver, 53 Bronze), achieving a hat-trick of KIYG titles.
2. Haryana: Secured second place with 117 medals (39 Gold).
3. Rajasthan: Achieved its best-ever finish with 60 medals (24 Gold).The Times of India+8The Times of India+8Drishti IAS+8Drishti IAS

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🌟 Bihar’s Remarkable Performance

As the host state, Bihar delivered its best performance in KIYG history:The Times of India+8Wikipedia+8Patna Press+8

• Total Medals: 36 (7 Gold, 11 Silver, 18 Bronze)
• Ranking: Jumped from 28th to 15th position, a significant improvement from previous editions.
• Key Achievements:
  • Athletics: Khushi Yadav clinched gold in the 2000m steeplechase with a time of 9:52.10.
  • Traditional Sports: Secured golds in Thang-Ta and Sepak Takraw, highlighting the state’s prowess in indigenous games.
  • Rugby: Achieved gold, marking a significant milestone in the sport’s development within the state.Wikipedia+4Galaxy Classes+4Drishti IAS+4youth.kheloindia.gov.in+8Wikipedia+8Patna Press+8The Times of India+1Wikipedia+1

This performance represents a 620% increase over Bihar’s 2023 showing, where it won just five medals. The Times of India+2Patna Press+2Galaxy Classes+2

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🏅 Notable Individual Performances

• Aditi Hegde (Maharashtra): Dominated swimming events with five golds, one silver, and one bronze.
• Saif Chafekar (Maharashtra): Set a meet record in the 110m hurdles with a time of 13.48 seconds.
• Aditya Pisal (Maharashtra): Achieved a meet record in the 100m sprint at 10.62 seconds.
• Samuel Zadeng (Mizoram): Won gold in the boys’ 70kg boxing category, marking Mizoram’s first medal in this edition. The Times of IndiaThe Times of India+2Wikipedia+2The Times of India+2

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🏛️ Infrastructure and Organization

The games were conducted across multiple venues, including:

• Patliputra Sports Complex, Patna
• Rajgir Sports Complex, Rajgir
• Sandy’s Compound Complex, Bhagalpur
• IOCL Barauni and Yamuna Bhagat Stadium, Begusarai
• Bihar Institute of Public Administration & Rural Development-Open Ground, Gaya

Additionally, events like shooting, gymnastics, and track cycling were held in New Delhi to leverage existing infrastructure. Wikipedia+1Drishti IAS+1

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🎯 Conclusion

The Khelo India Youth Games 2025 not only showcased the athletic prowess of young Indians but also highlighted Bihar’s dedication to promoting sports at the grassroots level. The state’s significant improvement in the medal tally underscores the effectiveness of its sports policies and infrastructure development.Drishti IAS+1Patna Press+1