Artists perform during the inauguration ceremony of the Khelo India Youth Games 2025, at Patliputra Sports Complex, in Patna, on May 4, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (May 4, 2025) addressed the inaugural ceremony of the seventh edition of the Khelo India Youth Games via videoconferencing and officially announced the launch of the event.

The Khelo India Youth Games is being held in Bihar for the first time from May 4 to May 15. Five districts will host the event, including Patna, Nalanda (Rajgir), Gaya, Bhagalpur, and Begusarai.

Over 8,500 players and 1,500 technical staff from all over the country will ensure participation in 28 sports.

Addressing athletes, coaches and staff present at the event, Mr. Modi said players from across the country had gathered, showcasing exceptional talent and determination. He highlighted the athlethes’ dedication and hard work, acknowledging their contribution to the sporting spirit of the nation. The PM extended his best wishes to all the players, emphasising that sports in India was now evolving into a distinct cultural identity.

“As India’s sporting culture grows, so will the country’s soft power on the global stage,” Mr. Modi said, underscoring the significance of the Khelo India Youth Games in providing a major platform for the nation’s youth.

He said his Government had always given top priority to sports in its policies. He highlighted that various sporting events under Khelo India, including the University Games, Youth Games, Winter Games, and Para Games, were held nationwide throughout the year at multiple levels.

These consistent competitions, he remarked, boosted the athletes’ confidence and brought their talent to the forefront. Citing an example from cricket, the Prime Minister lauded Bihar’s own Vaibhav Suryavanshi for his outstanding performance in the IPL (Indian Premier League) at a young age. Mr. Modi emphasised that while Mr. Suryavanshi’s hard work was crucial, the exposure to multiple competitions also played a key role in shaping his talent. The more athletes play, the more they thrive, he said.

The PM said the Khelo India Youth Games provided young athletes the opportunity to understand the nuances of national-level sports and gain valuable experience.

Stressing that hosting the Olympics in India had been a long-cherished dream of every citizen, Mr. Modi underlined India’s efforts to bring the Olympic Games to the country in 2036.

He said that various initiatives, including Khelo India and the Target Olympic Podium (TOP) scheme, had contributed to building a robust sports ecosystem, benefiting thousands of athletes across Bihar and the rest of the country.

Mr. Modi also acknowledged the growing presence of Indian athletes in new and emerging sports, including wushu, sepak takraw, pencak silat, lawn bowls, and roller skating. He recalled the historic moment when the Indian women’s team secured a medal in lawn bowls at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, bringing global recognition to the sport in India.

The Prime Minister highlighted the Government’s focus on modernising India’s sports infrastructure. The sports budget had increased more than threefold, he said, reaching approximately ₹4,000 crore this year, with a significant portion allocated to infrastructure development.

The Prime Minister acknowledged the establishment of the Khelo India State Centre of Excellence in Rajgir and in other institutions, including the Bihar Sports University and the State Sports Academy.

He remarked that young professionals could explore roles as coaches, fitness trainers, recruitment agents, event managers, sports lawyers, and media experts.

Encouraging the athletes, he urged them to perform at their best and represent the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ as brand ambassadors. He expressed confidence that the athletes would carry fond memories from Bihar. He also encouraged those visiting from outside the State to savour the taste of litti chokha and Bihar’s famous makhana.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya were present at the Patliputra Sports Complex, Kankarbagh, where the main inaugural function was organised in Patna.

Famous Bihari folk singer Maithili Thakur enthralled the audience with her singing, and actor Pankaj Tripathi described the glorious past of Bihar via a musical jugalbandi.

Mr. Kumar, while addressing the players, said that it was a matter of great happiness to have the Khelo India Youth Games organised in Bihar this year, and to have its inauguration announced by the Prime Minister.

“I express my gratitude to the Prime Minister for this. I also congratulate and welcome Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya-ji who attended this programme. I also welcome and congratulate the players who have come from every corner of the country to participate in these games,” Mr. Kumar said.