Patna: Bihar took centre stage as e-sports made its historic debut at the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG), with the host state earning multiple podium finishes and organisers hailing the event as a key step toward preparing Indian talent for the 2027 E-Sports World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Held as a demonstration event, the inclusion of e-sports marked a turning point for the rapidly growing industry in India. Eight states participated in four competitive categories—Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), Chess, Street Fighter 6, and eFootball—demonstrating the nation’s growing acceptance of e-sports as a legitimate competitive pursuit.
Bihar’s performance was especially noteworthy. In BGMI, the most-watched e-sport in India, the state’s A and B teams finished first and third, respectively, with Tamil Nadu’s A team claiming second. The e-Football console tournament saw Tamil Nadu’s Arnav Rajiv Parikh secure gold, while Bihar’s Tanav Raj and Maharashtra’s Ronit Sagar Satam took silver and bronze.
In chess, local talents dominated again—Rupesh B Ramchandra and Amrit Raunak secured the top two spots, followed by Maharashtra’s Mohit Kamlesh Thanvi. Telangana’s Mandalapu Sreejesh won Street Fighter 6, with Maharashtra’s Parth Swapnil Pawar and Bihar’s Rohit Kumar rounding out the top three.
Nagaland’s Lamgouhao Kipgen triumphed in the mobile eFootball final, narrowly defeating Arunachal Pradesh’s Jipin Gongo. Maharashtra’s Parth Varekar took third place.
The event was jointly supported by the Bihar government and the Sports Authority of India (SAI), with key organisational backing from the Federation of Electronic Sports Associations of India (FEAI). A national qualifier held on April 25, determined the top players.
Vaibhav Dange, founder of FEAI, praised the collaborative effort: “It’s a great initiative. I must thank the SAI and Government of Bihar for supporting e-sports as part of the Khelo India movement. It’s not just about games—it’s about opportunity and access.”
FEAI co-founder Abhishek Issar added that this breakthrough sets the tone for India’s international ambitions. “With the 2027 E-Sports World Cup on the horizon, events like KIYG are vital scouting grounds. Bihar’s lead shows what’s possible when youth talent gets a national platform.”
