The Khelo India Beach Games (KIBG) 2025, India’s first national-level beach sports event, was held from 19–24 May 2025 in Diu, Union Territory (UT) of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (DNHDD). Organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), Government of India (GoI), the games aimed to promote beach sports and identify grassroots talent.
- Manipur secured the top spot with 14 medals (5 gold, 6 silver, and 3 bronze), followed by Maharashtra with 20 medals (5 gold, 5 silver and 10 bronze) and Nagaland finished third with 13 medals (5 gold, 3 silver, and 5 bronze). Since all three states won five gold medals each, the silver medal count was used to decide their final rankings.
About Khelo India Beach Games (KIBG) 2025:
i.Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, MYAS inaugurated 1st edition of KIBG on 19 May 2025 at Ghoghla Beach, Diu. He also attended the closing ceremony held on 24 May 2025 at the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Khukri Memorial, Diu.
ii.Over 842 athletes from 31 States and UTs of India participated, competing in six medal events namely pencak silat, beach soccer, sepaktakraw (kick volleyball), beach kabaddi, beach volleyball and open water swimming, and along with two demonstration sports, mallakhamb and tug of war.
Mascot:
The KIBG 2025 mascot, Pearl, a dolphin symbolizing marine biodiversity, was inspired by the aquatic life of Nagoa Beach, Diu.
KIBG 2025 Medal Tally:
| Rank | State/Union Territory (UT) | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manipur | 5 | 6 | 3 | 14 |
| 2 | Maharashtra | 5 | 5 | 10 | 20 |
| 3 | Nagaland | 5 | 3 | 5 | 13 |
| 4 | Haryana | 5 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| 4 | Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) | 5 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
Key Highlights:
i.Nagaland achieved its first-ever top-three finish at a Khelo India event, securing third place overall.
- A major highlight was the Nagaland Women’s Sepak Takraw Quad Regu Team, which clinched the maiden KIBG gold with a 2-1 win over Haryana in a thrilling final.
ii.DNHDD as the host finished seventh in the medal tally with 4 gold and 1 silver medal, with all four golds came in Pencak Silat.
iii.Pencak Silat, an Indonesian martial art, emerged as the most influential sport at KIBG 2025, accounting for 28 out of 46 gold medals awarded.
- Manipur, the overall champion, secured 4 of its 5 gold medals in Pencak Silat, which played a major role in its top finish.
iv.Madhya Pradesh showcased strong talent in Mallakhamb, a demonstration sport, by winning 2 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze medal.
v.Open Water Swimming made its debut at the Games, featuring 5 kilometer (km) and 10 km events, where coastal states Maharashtra and Karnataka performed well.
About Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS):
Union Minister – Mansukh Mandaviya (Constituency-Porbandar, Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS) – Raksha Khadse (Constituency- Raver, Maharashtra)
