Bodhgaya, Bihar – April 18, 2025: Get ready for lightning-fast chases, thrilling dives, and heart-pounding action as Kho Kho takes center stage at the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2025 from May 5 to 9 at the Bihar Institute of Public Administration & Rural Development (BIPARD) Ground, Bodhgaya. The historic city is all set to echo with the cheers of fans and the energy of the nation’s top young athletes as the top 8 Kho Kho teams from across India gear up to compete.
Adding to the excitement, the official mascot ‘Gajsimha’ – a symbol of strength, wisdom, and speed – will rally the spirit of the Youth Games across Bihar.
This year’s KIYG, the seventh edition of India’s premier grassroots sports event under the Khelo India initiative, will be held from May 4 to 15, covering five cities in Bihar – Patna, Rajgir, Gaya, Bhagalpur, and Begusarai. In a first, e-sports will debut as a demonstration event, signaling the Games’ growing embrace of new-age disciplines.
While Bihar will host the majority of the events, New Delhi will stage the shooting, gymnastics, and track cycling competitions.
The scale of KIYG 2025 is grand, with around 10,000 participants, including athletes and volunteers from 36 States and Union Territories, set to converge. A total of 28 sports, including Olympic, non-Olympic, and indigenous disciplines such as Kho Kho, Mallakhamb, Kalarippayattu, and Thang-Ta, will be contested.
Kho Kho, known for its traditional roots and high-paced drama, promises to be one of the most engaging spectacles in Bodhgaya. With the country’s best youth teams in the fray, the competition is expected to be intense and deeply inspiring.
The KIYG is held as a team championship, where state and UT contingents strive for overall glory based on individual and team performances. Last year, Maharashtra defended their title at KIYG 2024 hosted in Tamil Nadu, continuing their dominance with a total of 158 medals, including 57 golds. So far, only Maharashtra and Haryana have won the KIYG titles, with Haryana clinching the inaugural championship in 2018 and again in 2022.
As anticipation builds, all eyes will be on Bodhgaya to witness a festival of speed, agility, and youthful energy in the Kho Kho arena.
Let the chase begin!