Opening ceremony of the 7th Khelo India Youth Games held in Bihar in the afternoon

The artist performed at the inauguration ceremony of the Khelo India Youth Games at Patliputra Sports Complex on May 4, 2025. Image source: PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about the first ceremony of the seventh edition of the Khelo India Youth Games through a video conference on Sunday (May 4, 2025) and officially announced the launch of the event.

The Khelo Indian Youth Games will be held in Bihar from May 4 to May 15. The five regions will host events including Patna, Nalanda (Rajgir), Gaya, Bhagalpur and Begusarai.

More than 8,500 players and 1,500 technicians from all over the country will ensure participation in 28 sports.

Speaking at the athletes, coaches and staff attending the event, Mr. Modi said players from all over the country gathered to demonstrate outstanding talent and determination. He stressed the dedication and efforts of Athlethes, recognizing their contribution to the national sporting spirit. The Prime Minister paid tribute to all players, emphasizing that India's sport is developing into a unique cultural identity.

“As Indian sports culture grows, the country's soft power on the global stage will also grow,” Modi said. Modi stressed the importance of the Khelo India Youth Games in the main platform provided by the country's youth.

He said his administration has always put sports at a top priority. He stressed that various sporting events under Khelo India, including the University Games, Youth Games, Winter Games and Para Games, are held throughout the year in multiple levels throughout the year.

He said these consistent competitions strengthened athletes’ confidence and brought their talents to the forefront. The Prime Minister took an example of cricket as an example, praising Bihar’s own Vaibhav Suryavanshi for his outstanding performance in the IPL (Indian Premier League) when he was young. Mr Modi stressed that despite the critical work of Mr Suryavanshi, exposure to multiple competitions also played a key role in shaping his talent. He said the more athletes compete, the stronger they grow.

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

Modi stressed that hosting the Olympics in India is every citizen’s long-standing dream, and Modi stressed India’s efforts to bring the Olympics to the country in 2036.

He said various initiatives, including Khelo India and Target Olympic podiums, contributed to building a strong sports ecosystem that would benefit athletes across Bihar and other parts of the country.

Mr Modi also acknowledged the presence of Indian athletes in new and emerging sports, including martial arts, Sepak Takraw, Pencak Silat, lawn bowls and skaters. He recalls historic moments when the Indian women’s team won a lawn bowl medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which brought global recognition to the sport in India.

The Prime Minister stressed the government's concern about modernizing India's sports infrastructure. He said the sports budget has grown more than triple, reaching about Rs 4,000 crore this year, allocated to infrastructure development.

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

He noted that young professionals can explore the roles of coaches, fitness coaches, recruiters, event managers, sports lawyers and media experts.

He encouraged athletes, urging them to perform as much as they can, and represent the spirit of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat” as the brand ambassador. He expressed confidence that athletes would bring good memories of Bihar. He also encouraged those from outside the state to taste the taste of Litti Chokha and Bihar’s famous Makhana.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya attended the Patlipura Sports Complex in Kankarbagh, where the main functions were organized in Patna.

The famous Bihar folk singer Maithili Thakur attracted audiences with her singing, and actor Pankaj Tripathi describes the glorious past of Bihar through the musical “Jugalbandi”.

Speaking to the players, Mr. Kumar said that the Khelo India Youth Games were organized in Bihar this year and the inauguration was announced by the Prime Minister, which was a very happy issue.

Kumar said: “I would like to express my gratitude to the Prime Minister. I would also like to congratulate and welcome the union sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya-Ji who participated in this program. I would also like to welcome and congratulate players from every corner of the country for participating in these matches.”