Odisha girls’ Kho-kho team stunned Maharashtra to win gold at KIYG 2025, while swimmer Aditi Hegde secured seven medals for Maharashtra. Bihar added bronze in shooting, and Karnataka surged in swimming. With new champions rising, the Games continue to celebrate young Indian sporting talent.
The sixth day of the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2025 witnessed remarkable performances as Odisha’s girls’ Kho-kho team delivered a stunning upset to win gold, while swimmer Aditi Satish Hegde of Maharashtra rounded off her campaign with a record haul of seven medals.
At the BIPARD Sports Complex in Gaya, the Odisha girls scripted a spectacular turnaround in the Kho-kho final, overcoming a halftime deficit to defeat tournament favorites Maharashtra. Their well-organizedKhelo India Youth Games strategy and resilience not only earned them the gold but also drew national attention to the state’s rising sporting talent. Odisha’s boys added to the celebrations by clinching silver, helping the state mark its presence on the medals table.
While Odisha’s team effort was the highlight on the field, it was Aditi Hegde who stole the individual spotlight. The Nashik-based Khelo India athlete capped off an outstanding swimming campaign with a bronze in the 1500m Freestyle, adding to her five golds (two of them in relays) and a previous bronze, bringing her total medal tally to seven. Her performance at the BIPARD Swimming Pool not only improved upon her five-medal outing in Chennai last year but also set a new benchmark in the Games.
Elsewhere, excitement continued across various venues. At the Patliputra Sports Complex, Jammu and Kashmir’s boys volleyball team had impressed spectators on Thursday night. On Friday, the drama shifted to the Kho-kho arena with Odisha’s thrilling win.
Bihar, the host state, added a bronze to its tally through the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team duo of Rudra Pratap and Divya Shree, who held their nerve to defeat an Uttar Pradesh pair at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Ranges in New Delhi. However, the home crowd was left disappointed after the Bihar girls lost the Sepak Takraw Regu final to Manipur. As of Friday, Bihar’s medal count stood at one gold, five silver, and eight bronze, with potential to improve through the upcoming rugby finals.
Maharashtra, despite the setback in girls’ Kho-kho, retained its dominant position on the medals table. With victories in the boys’ Kho-kho final, the air rifle mixed team event, and strong finishes in swimming, Maharashtra’s gold tally climbed to 23, keeping it firmly at the top.
Karnataka ended its swimming campaign on a high. Rujula S. bagged gold in the 50m Freestyle, and the boys’ 4x100m Freestyle Relay team also topped the podium, helping Karnataka surpass Rajasthan in the medal standings. The southern state’s count rose to 12 gold, 20 silver, and six bronze medals.
Adding to the final-day swimming fireworks, Haryana’s Arjun Singh clocked 23.91 seconds in the 50m Freestyle to claim the title of the fastest swimmer of the meet, marking his second individual gold after a win in the 50m Backstroke earlier.
As KIYG 2025 approaches its conclusion, stories of determination, talent, and regional pride continue to inspire the next generation of Indian athletes.
