Day 7: Khelo India Youth Games 2025

Golden Girls of Bihar, Table Tennis Triumphs, and Odisha’s Double Gold Shine

Bihar’s Rugby Triumph — The Rise of Golden Girls

The atmosphere at Pataliputra Sports Complex was electric as Bihar’s girls’ rugby team etched their names in history. In a stunning showcase of skill and teamwork, they overpowered Odisha with a 22-0 win to claim the gold medal in rugby’s first appearance at the Khelo India Youth Games. Anshu Kumari, Saloni Kumari, and Alpana Kumari played pivotal roles in securing this historic victory.
The entire squad rose from modest beginnings, honed through the transformative Asmita League.
Ten out of twelve team members were trained under this grassroots girls’ rugby initiative.
Asmita League was launched in 2021 to promote girls’ participation in contact sports like rugby.
Their win wasn’t just a triumph on the field—it was a symbol of Bihar’s emergence from the shadows into the national spotlight.

Saloni once pushed a cart for survival and now captains India’s U-18 team.
Anshu’s journey kicked off with a bronze medal at the Under-14 Nationals held in Pune.

Alpana overcame a fractured collarbone and a road accident to stand tall on the podium.

Their journeys reflect determination, the strength of community backing, and the impact of seizing opportunities.The trio now hopes this gold medal paves the way to national camps and government jobs.

Kavya Bhatt Shines Bright with Double Gold in Table Tennis Debut

From Akola, Maharashtra, 15-year-old Kavya Bhatt stunned everyone with her twin gold wins.
She began training at age seven and now owns 13 international and 15 national medals.
In the singles final, she outplayed Tamil Nadu’s Hansini Mathan Rajan with a 4-1 victory, showcasing precise control and quick, strategic rallies.
Kavya also won the doubles title with partner Divyanshi Bhowmik, beating Bengal’s strong pair 4-0.
She trains at Raman Table Tennis High Performance Centre and credits her coaches deeply.
Her mother left her job to support Kavya’s sports journey full-time.

Kavya has won golds in Saudi Arabia, a silver in Czech Republic, and medals in Jordan and Sri Lanka.
She says her KIYG scholarship plays a crucial role in supporting her training and career goals.

Odisha’s Double Gold: Harswardhan and Jyoshna Shine in Weightlifting

Odisha also made waves by clinching two gold medals in weightlifting, with athletes setting new national benchmarks. Harswardhan Sahu, from a rural background, smashed two national youth records in the 49kg category.
He lifted 115 kg in clean and jerk, and 203 kg overall, earning him gold and national glory.
Harswardhan has now qualified for the Commonwealth Championship through this performance.
Jyoshna Sabar asserted her supremacy in the girls’ 40kg weight class, winning the gold medal with a commanding total lift of 122 kg. Among the competitors, one notable athlete came from the remote village of Pekkata in Odisha’s Gajapati district—her journey symbolizing determination and perseverance. Jyoshna, a prominent talent from the Khelo India program, has also earned international acclaim with a medal-winning performance at the World Youth Championship.

She said her scholarship of ₹10,000 per month removes financial stress from her family.
This support allows her to focus on training and push her limits on the global stage.

Priyanuj Bhattacharya and Kavya Bhatt Rule the TT Arena

Assam’s Priyanuj Bhattacharya put on a masterclass of skill and strategy, outmaneuvering Tamil Nadu’s PV Abhinand to claim the boys’ singles championship title.
His powerful game secured him the gold in the boys’ singles category.

Kavya, facing her previous rival Hansini again, made a strong comeback after losing the first game.
She won the next four games, displaying tactical brilliance and mental strength.

Maharashtra’s Divyanshi Bhowmik and Sukriti Sharma also bagged medals in the girls’ category.
Tamil Nadu’s Balamurugan beat Maharashtra’s Kushal Chopra to win bronze in boys’ singles.