The Khelo India Youth Games 2025 have officially begun, showcasing over 5,256 young athletes from various parts of the country. In 2025, Bihar is hosting the event, with sporting venues set up across Patna, Rajgir, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, and New Delhi. Scheduled from May 4 to May 15, 2025, this edition includes 27 sporting disciplines, giving under-18 athletes a platform to perform at the national level.
The Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) is a national-level, multi-sport event in India launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Its goal is to promote sports and fitness among Indian youth and to discover and nurture talent at the grassroots level. The 2025 edition marks the seventh edition of this event, with 36 States and Union Territories participating in these games.
Khelo India Youth Games 2025 | |
Edition | Seventh |
Dates | May 4 to May 15, 2025 |
Host | Bihar (Patna, Rajgir, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Begusarai); select events in New Delhi |
Opening Ceremony | Patliputra Sports Complex, Patna (May 4, 2025) |
Participants | 5,200+ athletes |
Sports | 27 medal sports + 1 demonstration sport (Esports) |
New Sports | Sepaktakraw included as a medal sport for the first time |
Venues in Delhi | Shooting, Gymnastics, Track Cycling |
Participating Teams | All 36 States & UTs + Services team |
Mascot | Gajsimha (symbolizes power of elephant and heart of lion) |
Logo Theme | Khel Ke Rang, Bihar Ke Sang |
Live Broadcast | Olympics.com (streaming), DD Sports (TV) |
Medal Tally Website | youth.kheloindia.gov.in/medal-tally |
Khelo India is a flagship initiative launched by the Government of India in 2018 to revitalize sports at the grassroots level. It aims to discover young athletic talent and provide them with the necessary support and resources to thrive. Khelo India features multiple components, including the Khelo India Youth Games, University Games, Winter Games, and Para Games, each tailored to different athlete groups.
At its core, Khelo India focuses on developing a strong sports infrastructure, delivering high-quality training, and encouraging youth participation in sports across the country. Through this effort, the government envisions India emerging as a prominent force in the global sporting arena, where sports become a valued part of everyday life.
The major goals of the Khelo India programme are:
Spot and Support Talent: Identify promising athletes and provide professional training.
Build Sports Infrastructure: Improve existing facilities and build new ones in rural and urban areas.
Encourage Participation of Women & Differently-Abled: Promote inclusivity in sports.
Aid Sports Academies: Financial and technical assistance for accredited academies.
Preserve Traditional Games: Revive India’s indigenous sports heritage.
By achieving these goals, the initiative hopes to create a vibrant sports ecosystem and help athletes excel nationally and internationally.
The registration process for the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 is being hosted at youth.kheloindia.gov.in and kheloindia.gov.in, where athletes born on or after 1 January 2007 can register for the U-17 category and other eligible age categories may apply for the U-21 events.
KIYG registration can be done in five simple steps:
Visit the official portal.
Click on the Registration link.
Fill in the required details (name, age, gender, sport, etc.).
Upload necessary documents.
Submit the form online.
The official logo of Khelo India Youth Games 2025, with national colours orange and green, reflects Bihar’s cultural heritage and spirit of unity in sports. Key elements include:
Ashoka Chakra & Map of Bihar: Highlighting national integration and state identity.
Mahabodhi Temple & Nalanda University: Representing the state's historical significance.
Peepal Tree & Gangetic Dolphin: Indicating environmental richness and biodiversity.
Madhubani Art & Chhath Festival: Showcasing the state’s artistic and cultural traditions.
The KIYG 2025 logo theme ‘Khel Ke Rang, Bihar Ke Sang!’ celebrates regional pride and national sportsmanship.
Also Read: National Sports Awards
The games will run from May 4 to May 15, 2025. Each sport has its own designated time slots and venues across the participating cities. The key dates include:
Discipline | Date | Venue | City |
Archery | May 4 to May 7, 2025 | Sandy's Compound Complex | Bhagalpur |
Kabaddi | May 4 to May 8, 2025 | Indoor Hall, Rajgir Sports Complex - Hall 2 | Rajgir |
Volleyball | May 4 to May 8, 2025 | Indoor Hall, Patliputra Sports Complex | Patna |
Gatka | May 5 to May 7, 2025 | IIM Bodh Gaya - Open Ground 2 | Gaya |
Judo | May 5 to May 8, 2025 | Gyan Bhawan | Patna |
Mallakhamb | May 5 to May 8, 2025 | IIM Bodh Gaya - Open Ground 1 | Gaya |
Swimming | May 5 to May 9, 2025 | Swimming Pool, BIPARD | Gaya |
Kho-Kho | May 5 to May 9, 2025 | BIPARD - Open Ground | Gaya |
Sepaktakraw | May 5 to May 10, 2025 | BSAP 5 Indoor Stadium | Patna |
Shooting | May 5 to May 10, 2025 | Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range | New Delhi |
Football | May 5 to May 14, 2025 | Yamuna Bhagat Stadium | Begusarai |
Football | May 5 to May 14, 2025 | IOCL Barauni | Begusarai |
Cycling (Track) | May 6 to May 8, 2025 | Velodrome, Indira Gandhi Sports Complex | New Delhi |
Rugby | May 6 to May 9, 2025 | Athletics Ground, Patliputra Sports Complex | Patna |
Table Tennis | May 6 to May 10, 2025 | Indoor Hall, Rajgir Sports Complex - Hall 1 | Rajgir |
Hockey | May 7 to May 13, 2025 | Hockey Stadium, Rajgir Sports Complex | Rajgir |
Badminton | May 10 to May 13, 2025 | Sandy's Compound Complex | Bhagalpur |
Boxing | May 10 to May 14, 2025 | Sports Complex (Railways) | Patna |
Tennis | May 10 to May 14, 2025 | IAS Bhawan | Patna |
Weightlifting | May 10 to May 14, 2025 | Indoor Hall, Rajgir Sports Complex - Hall 4 | Rajgir |
Gymnastics | May 10 to May 14, 2025 | Gymnastics Hall, Indira Gandhi Sports Complex | New Delhi |
Basketball | May 10 to May 15, 2025 | Indoor Hall, Patliputra Sports Complex | Patna |
Kalaripayattu | May 11 to May 13, 2025 | IIM Bodh Gaya - Open Ground 1 | Gaya |
Yogasana | May 11 to May 14, 2025 | IIM Bodh Gaya - Open Ground 2 | Gaya |
Wrestling | May 11 to May 15, 2025 | Gyan Bhawan | Patna |
Fencing | May 11 to May 15, 2025 | Indoor Hall, Rajgir Sports Complex - Hall 2 | Rajgir |
Thang-TA | May 12 to May 14, 2025 | BIPARD - Open Ground | Gaya |
Athletics | May 12 to May 14, 2025 | Athletics Ground, Patliputra Sports Complex | Patna |
Cycling (Road) | May 13 to May 14, 2025 | Marine Drive | Patna |
The Khelo India Youth Games 2025 are being hosted by Bihar in its five cities, with select events in New Delhi. The venues of KIYG 2025 are:
Main Host Cities in Bihar
Patna (Opening Ceremony at Patliputra Sports Complex)
Rajgir
Gaya
Bhagalpur
Begusarai
Events in New Delhi
Shooting
Gymnastics
Track Cycling
Also Read: National Sport of India
The mascot for this edition is ‘Gajasimha’, a legendary creature blending an elephant’s wisdom with a lion’s strength. It draws inspiration from temple carvings from the Pala dynasty, connecting ancient art to modern sports. Gajasimha symbolises resilience, power, and intelligence, qualities every young athlete is encouraged to exhibit during the games.
A total of 27 disciplines and 1 demonstration event will be contested in the 2025 edition. The list of KIYG 2025 sports includes:
Archery
Athletics
Basketball
Badminton
Boxing
Kabaddi
Volleyball
Gatka
Judo
Mallakhamb
Swimming
Kho Kho
Sepaktakraw
Shooting
Football
Cycling
Rugby
Table Tennis
Hockey
Tennis
Weightlifting
Gymnastics
Kalaripayattu
Yogasana
Wrestling
Fencing
Thang Ta
Esports (demonstration event).
The Khelo India Youth Games 2025 mark a significant step forward in India’s journey to empower youth through sports. By combining cultural pride with modern competition, these games not only uncover fresh talent but also inspire the next generation to embrace discipline, teamwork, and excellence.
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