Patna: At the indoor stadium in the Bihar Armed Police Force camp, the energy is electric. Cheers erupt with every point during a Sepaktakraw doubles match between host state Bihar and Nagaland, but it’s not just the athletes who are making headlines—it’s the children in the stands.
Dozens of school-aged spectators, many attending a live sports event for the first time, watch in wide-eyed wonder as their peers take centre stage. The grandeur of the Khelo India Youth Games, being hosted in Bihar for the first time, has left a deep impression on them. Inspired by what they see, many of these children are now dreaming of a future in sports.
That is precisely what the Bihar government had hoped for. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s vision for hosting the Games went beyond medals; it was about planting the seeds of a sporting culture across the state. “Our Chief Minister wanted that through the Khelo India Youth Games, youth should be inspired to come into sports,” said Ravindran Shankaran, Director General and CEO of the Bihar State Sports Authority. “For us, more than winning medals or becoming champions, it is important to showcase the grandeur of these games to the youth.”
At the Digha Railway Sports Complex, where the boxing bouts began on Saturday, the same excitement was evident. Children of various age groups, some accompanied by their families, watched closely as young fighters traded punches in the ring. A day earlier, at the Patliputra Sports Complex, the volleyball finals drew similar crowds—many of whom were not only enjoying the spectacle but also imagining themselves out on the court.
Ten-year-old Vasudha Singh, a student of Kendriya Vidyalaya-2, sat with her grandfather at the boxing venue. She’s a budding badminton player who recently won a silver medal in the Kendriya Vidyalaya Divisional Games. Although disappointed that the badminton matches were being held in Bhagalpur and not in Patna, Vasudha found unexpected inspiration in boxing. “Seeing these boxing matches makes me realise how wonderfully these games are being organised and how passionate the players are to prove themselves,” she said. “I dream of playing for my state in the Khelo India Youth Games one day.”
Bihar has also excelled as a competitor. The state clinched the overall champion title in Sepaktakraw, and fans like Bhavya, Navya, and Nivedita—accompanied by their grandmother—cheered every point. Their grandmother revealed that each of the girls has a growing interest in different sports, and the event has only deepened their determination. “These girls want to enter sports,” she said. “After witnessing the grandeur of the Games, they have now decided to make sports their career.”
Thoughtful planning has helped make the event a success. Venues like Gyan Bhawan near Gandhi Maidan, selected for judo and wrestling, have ensured accessibility for local audiences. Here too, youth engagement has been high. During the judo matches, 13-year-old Mansi from Mumbai—visiting family in Bihar—watched in admiration. A badminton player herself, she now wants to pursue the sport more seriously. “I hadn’t seen the Khelo India Youth Games before,” she said. “But seeing my home state organise such a wonderful event makes me proud.”
As the Games continue, it’s becoming increasingly clear that their legacy will not be measured solely in medals, but in the dreams ignited in children who now see themselves as tomorrow’s champions.
