This year’s Games bring together 4,448 athletes representing 222 universities. Competitions will be held in 23 medal sports, with 296 gold medals up for grabs. Kho-kho will appear as a demonstration event as part of efforts to promote indigenous sports.
KIUG 2025 is organised by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in partnership with the Rajasthan government, the State Sports Council and the Association of Indian Universities, with technical support from national federations.
Mandaviya’s message: universities as sporting nurseries
Addressing the athletes and officials, Dr. Mandaviya emphasised universities’ unique potential to nurture elite sportspersons. “As I stand here, what I see is not just a crowd of athletes I see the hopes of 1.4 billion Indians,” he said, urging students to aim for global podiums and carry India’s flag with pride.
He cited examples of institutional contributions to the Olympics: Lovely Professional University reportedly sent 11 athletes to Tokyo 2020 and 24 to Paris 2024, while institutions such as DAV College, Jalandhar and Delhi University have produced Olympians. “If every university taps its full sporting potential, imagine what we can achieve,” Dr. Mandaviya said.
Ceremonial highlights and the Viksit Rajasthan torch
The opening ceremony, marked by pomp and cultural performances, saw Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma formally declare the Games open. Two international athletes boxer Arundhati Chaudhary and compound archer Rajesh Chauhan presented the Viksit Rajasthan smart torch to CM Sharma and Dr. Mandaviya.
The solar-powered torch, equipped with a built-in camera, concluded a statewide relay before lighting up the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, symbolising sustainability and innovation in the Games’ design.
Rajasthan’s role and local preparations
CM Sharma welcomed the Games, thanking the Union Sports Ministry for selecting Rajasthan as host despite strong competition from other states. He said KIUG aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of youth empowerment through sport and described Khelo India as a level-playing field where talent can emerge regardless of background.
Events will be spread across seven cities in Rajasthan, enabling wider community engagement and infrastructure utilisation. Local authorities and SAI have coordinated logistics, security and athlete accommodation to ensure smooth conduct over the 12-day schedule.
Pathway to global sport
The Union minister framed KIUG as a strategic step in India’s ambition to become a sporting power by 2047. He noted that India has some of the world’s oldest learning traditions Takshashila and Nalanda and argued universities can now be centres of sporting excellence as well as academics.
With an estimated 45 million students enrolled in Indian universities, Mandaviya urged institutions to develop structured sports programmes, talent-identification systems and support for elite athletes to convert campus success into Olympic medals.
Looking ahead
Over the next fortnight, athletes will compete across disciplines to earn medals and selection attention from national federations and SAI talent scouts. Organisers hope KIUG 2025 will deepen university sports culture, strengthen talent pipelines and deliver some breakout stars for India’s international sporting future.