Khelo India Youth Games 2025 to be Held in Bihar After Women’s Hockey Championship Success
Following the successful organization of the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024 in Rajgir, Bihar, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has announced that the state will host the Khelo India Youth Games 2025. The announcement was made by Dr. Mansukh L. Mandaviya, Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, during a press conference after the Indian women’s hockey team triumphed over China in the final at the Bihar University Ground in Nalanda.
Congratulating the Indian women’s hockey team for their victory, Dr. Mandaviya expressed his satisfaction with the successful execution of the event. “Congratulations to the Indian women’s hockey team on winning the title and felicitating them. I would also like to congratulate the Bihar Government for successfully organizing this championship in the state,” he said. He further added, “On the occasion, I also announce that the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 will be organised in Bihar.”
The decision to host the prestigious Khelo India Youth Games in Bihar marks a significant milestone for the state, especially in the realm of sports. The successful hosting of the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy demonstrated Bihar’s growing capabilities in organizing high-profile international sporting events.
Harendra Singh, the chief coach of the Indian women’s hockey team, who hails from Bihar, called the successful hosting of the event a “great achievement” for the state. He reflected on his long-standing efforts to promote hockey in Bihar, saying, “For 28 years, I have been urging people across all walks of life to promote hockey in the state, but nobody took note of it. A coach always aspires to coach his team to success in his birthplace. Today my dream has been fulfilled by these 20 daughters of mine.”
Harendra went on to commend the Bihar Government and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for their efforts in hosting the tournament. He noted that such an event in Bihar signifies a major shift in the state’s sporting culture. “Organising a big international event in the state indicates a huge change in the State. I express my gratitude to the Bihar Government and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for successfully organising such an international tournament in Bihar which had previously not even organised a school-level hockey tournament.”
Speaking further on the progress in Bihar’s sports infrastructure, Harendra highlighted the improvements in facilities. “I was in the USA for five years as a coach and have toured around the world, but the facilities that have been arranged here are the best. It is now the responsibility of the Bihar Government to encourage parents in a state oriented towards education to motivate children to take up sports, as sports help us gain fitness, fame, and fortune,” he said.
Deepika, the penalty corner expert who scored the decisive goal in India’s 1-0 win over China, credited her teammates and the passionate crowd for her success. “It is the support of my teammates and the huge number of fans in the stands that inspired me to excel in this match,” she shared.
Team captain Salima Tete also praised the collective effort of the team. “Though Deepika scored the goal, the success belongs to the entire team. Whenever we earn a penalty corner, we are confident that Deepika will score goals, and today she did that,” she said. Salima acknowledged the strong performance of China but expressed pride in her team’s resilience. “China has a strong team, and they put up a huge fight, thwarting our attempts to score a goal. We did not lose hope and kept attacking until we found our goal.”
With the announcement of the Khelo India Youth Games 2025, Bihar is set to continue its upward trajectory in the sports domain, with increased focus on developing the next generation of athletes and promoting a sports culture across the state. The success of the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024 has not only highlighted the state’s organizational prowess but has also paved the way for more sporting events in the future.
