For the first time, Rajasthan will host India’s largest university-level multi-sport event. The Games are jointly organised by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the Government of Rajasthan, and the Rajasthan State Sports Council (RSSC), in collaboration with the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and National Sports Federations.
The sporting events will take place across seven major cities — Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Ajmer, Bharatpur and Bikaner. Poornima University in Jaipur will serve as the host university.
A total of 5000 athletes from more than 230 universities are expected to participate in 24 sporting disciplines, including 23 medal events and one demonstration sport. New additions to the programme include canoeing, kayaking, cycling and beach volleyball, reflecting India’s expanding ambitions in diverse sporting areas.
Olympians and Top Athletes Join KIUG 2025
This year’s edition features several prominent names, including Olympians and world champions. Double Olympian Srihari Nataraj from Jain University will compete in six swimming events, marking his second appearance at KIUG after 2022. He lauded the Games as a “great platform for upcoming swimmers,” emphasising the high calibre of competition.
World-class archers, including Olympian Bhajan Kaur, world champion Parneet Kaur and Asian Games gold medallist Aditi Gopichand Swami, are also among the top attractions. Their participation is expected to inspire thousands of university athletes aspiring to reach international standards.
Rajasthan Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore Welcomes Athletes
Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Rajasthan’s Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and 2004 Olympic silver medallist, extended a warm welcome to all participating universities. He highlighted that KIUG embodies Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of offering young Indians meaningful opportunities to excel in their chosen sports.
“Every young person has some talent in him or her. KIUG provides an environment where skills are paramount. Winning medals is important, but sports also helps in shaping responsible and disciplined citizens,” he said.
Previous Edition: Records and Highlights
Chandigarh University topped the medal tally in the previous edition with 66 medals, including 28 gold. Lovely Professional University and Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar secured second and third place respectively. Eight Games records were created, all in athletics, underscoring the rising quality of university sport in India.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports notes that the Khelo India platform has already transformed talent identification across the country.
Khelo India: Building the Future of Indian Sport
The Khelo India Scheme, the flagship initiative of the Union Ministry, continues to shape India’s sporting landscape through structured national-level competitions, talent identification and long-term athlete development. So far, 20 editions of Khelo India competitions have been held, including Youth Games, University Games, Winter Games, Para Games, Beach Games and Water Sports Festivals.
The 2025 edition of KIUG further reinforces this legacy by providing a dynamic, competitive platform where thousands of young athletes can showcase their potential and represent their universities with pride.