PM Modi hails Bihar Khelo India Games success

New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the Khelo India Youth Games 2025, held in Bihar, calling it a “big hit” and a sign of India’s growing sports spirit. He spoke about the event during his monthly radio show, Mann Ki Baat, on Sunday. Over 5,000 athletes from across India took part in competitions held in five cities of Bihar. Modi appreciated the warmth shown by Bihar’s people and said the event gained worldwide attention through the Olympic channel.

This was the first Khelo India edition to reach a global audience. Modi congratulated all medal winners, especially Maharashtra, Haryana, and Rajasthan, who finished in the top three. A total of 26 records were broken during the event. Notable performances came from weightlifters Asmita Dhone (Maharashtra), Harshvardhan Sahu (Odisha), and Tushar Chaudhary (Uttar Pradesh). Maharashtra’s Sairaj Pardesi set three new records.

In athletics, Qadir Khan and Sheikh Zeeshan from Uttar Pradesh and Hansraj from Rajasthan impressed everyone. Bihar, the host state, won 36 medals in total.

PM Modi said sports play a key role in nurturing young talent. “The one who plays, blooms,” he said. He stressed the importance of such tournaments for the future of Indian sports and encouraged more youth to participate in sporting activities.

The successful hosting of the games in Bihar is seen as a boost for India’s sports culture and a platform to showcase young athletes on the world stage.