Friday, May 9, 2025
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 2025 Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) on Sunday, hailing India’s overall progress in sport. This was the first time that the annual event, christened in Hindi as “Play India!”, is being held in the state of Bihar, with venues for 28 sports spread across five districts and everything concluding on 15 May.
Modi highlighted the importance of investing in sport to improve Indian youth’s future and influence in the world. It was under his government that the event was first launched in 2018.
The country’s promotion of its indigenous sports has been on display during the KIYG, with the kho kho competitions being spectated by hundreds of school children. The inclusion of eSports as a demonstration sport also added to the uniqueness of the event, with competitions taking place for video games such as Street Fighter 6 and eFootball.
Sources
- Amit Bhelari. “PM inaugurates seventh Khelo India Youth Games being held in Bihar” — The Hindu, May 04, 2025
- Rohan Chowdhury. “Explained: How PM Narendra Modi’s Khelo India Games programme serve as launchpad of Indian sporting future” — moneycontrol, MAY 04, 2025
- “Kho Kho adds to indigenous sporting flavour at Khelo India Youth Games 2025” — ANI, May 06, 2025
- Express News Service. “Esports at Khelo India Youth Games: BGMI, Street Fighter 6, Chess, and eFootball at Patliputra event” — The Indian Express, May 5, 2025
