PANAJI
The seventh edition of Khelo India Youth Games 2025 will be held from May 4 to 15 across five cities in Bihar – Patna, Rajgir, Gaya, Bhagalpur and Begusarai. New Delhi will also host select events.
A strong 78-member Goan contingent comprising of 60 athletes will participate in 14 disciplines in these games. 18 support staff will also accompany them.
Goan athletes will take part in athletics, badminton, cycling, gatka, gymnastics, judo, kabaddi, kallariyapayattu, mallakhamb, shooting, sepak takraw, swimming, table tennis, and yogasana.
During last edition, a 45-member Goan contingent had taken part in nine disciplines –boxing, football, gatka, gymnastics, judo, mallakhamb, shooting, weightlifting and yogasana.
But, only Arif Khan, a student of standard VIII at Dattaram Matrawadi High School, Mapusa could win a bronze in traditional yogasana sports event. The rest of the squad returned home empty handed.
In fact, at the last two editions of Khelo India Youth Games held in Tamil Nadu (2024) and Madhya Pradesh (2023), Goa could win just a solitary bronze medal in each of these Games to finish at a poor 31st position in the medal tally.
During 2022 edition held at Haryana, Goa had won three medals (2 gold and 1 silver).
However, things can be different this time around as Goa hopes to win a few medals and better its performance from the last two editions.
“This is the first time that 60 athletes from Goa are participating in these Games across 14 disciplines. This is a big number for a small state like Goa. We hope to win a few medals. We have strong chance in Yogasana, Mallakhamb, Gymnastics, Badminton and Kabaddi,” said Sumith Mohan Rajeshwari, Chef-de-Mission, Goa contingent.
In fact, Sumith has been the High-Performance Director at Khelo India Sports Centre for Excellence, Goa since July 2022.
Till date, Goa has won 42 medals (3 gold, 17 silver and 22 bronze) in these games.
But, over the years, Goa’s performance at the Khelo India Youth Games has been on a decline.
The state could win mere five medals (2 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze) at the last three editions as compared to 37 medals (1 gold, 16 silver and 20 bronze) it won in the first three editions.
The Khelo India programme which was introduced in 2018 to revive sports culture in India at the grass-root level and has held six editions of Khelo India Youth Games so far.
