Khelo India Youth Games 2025, List, Schedule, Mascot, Venue

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What is Khelo India Programme?

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.

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Khelo India Programme Objectives

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.

Khelo India Youth Games 2025 Registration

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:

1. Visit the official portal.

2. Click on the Registration link.

3. Fill in the required details (name, age, gender, sport, etc.).

4. Upload necessary documents.

5. Submit the form online.

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Khelo India Youth Games 2025 Logo

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 

Khelo India Youth Games 2025 Schedule

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:

Khelo India Youth Games 2025 Venue

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

1. Patna (Opening Ceremony at Patliputra Sports Complex)

2. Rajgir

3. Gaya

4. Bhagalpur

5. Begusarai

Events in New Delhi

1. Shooting

2. Gymnastics

3. Track Cycling

Also Read: National Sport of India

Khelo India Youth Games 2025 Mascot 

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.

Khelo India Games List 2025

A total of 27 disciplines and 1 demonstration event will be contested in the 2025 edition. The list of KIYG 2025 sports includes:

1. Archery

2. Athletics

3. Basketball

4. Badminton

5. Boxing

6. Kabaddi

7. Volleyball

8. Gatka

9. Judo

10. Mallakhamb

11. Swimming

12. Kho Kho

13. Sepaktakraw

14. Shooting

15. Football

16. Cycling

17. Rugby

18. Table Tennis

19. Hockey

20. Tennis

21. Weightlifting

22. Gymnastics

23. Kalaripayattu

24. Yogasana

25. Wrestling

26. Fencing

27. Thang Ta

28. 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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