Did Bihar's Rugby Teams Shine at KIYG 2025?

Synopsis
Bihar's rugby teams made a stunning debut at KIYG 2025, securing two gold medals against Odisha. With the girls dominating and the boys fighting hard for their win, this event showcased their talent. Maharashtra leads the overall medal table while other states also made their mark in various sports.
Key Takeaways
- Bihar's rugby teams achieved a historic debut at KIYG 2025.
- The girls' team won decisively with a 22-0 score.
- Intense competition marked the boys' 14-12 victory.
- Maharashtra leads the overall medal tally with 23 golds.
- Karnataka's swimming success further emphasizes the competitive spirit.
Patna, May 9 (NationPress) Bihar’s rugby teams celebrated a historic debut at the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2025, clinching two gold medals at the expense of Odisha. The boys' and girls' teams showcased their skills in strikingly different manners at the Patliputra Sports Complex on Friday.
The girls’ team dominated the match with a decisive 22-0 victory, hardly allowing the Odisha girls to approach a try. In contrast, the boys faced intense competition, edging out Odisha with a 14-12 win in a thrilling match where both teams fought fiercely.
The finals were highly anticipated due to the fierce rivalry between Bihar and Odisha. While the girls' final was a display of Bihar's commanding performance, the boys' title clash had the audience on the edge of their seats, especially as Odisha led 12-7 in the closing moments.
With this achievement, Bihar now boasts three gold, five silver, and eight bronze medals, placing them 13th overall, while Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana hold the top five positions.
Earlier on Friday, the KIYG 2025 hosts faced disappointment when Bihar's girls lost the Sepak Takraw Regu final to Manipur.
Despite the setback in the girls' Kho-kho final against Odisha, Maharashtra maintained its relentless pursuit of the top position in the medal tally. They secured a title in the Kho-kho boys’ team and the air rifle shooting mixed team, culminating in a total of 23 gold medals.
Karnataka surged ahead of Rajasthan thanks to the twin gold medals won by Rujula S in the 50m Freestyle and the boys’ 4x100m Freestyle Relay, bringing their medal tally to 12 gold, 20 silver, and six bronze medals. Madhya Pradesh and Haryana completed the top five on the leaderboard.
The swimming competitions concluded on a high note for Karnataka, with Haryana’s Arjun Singh emerging as the fastest swimmer of the event, clocking 23.91 seconds to secure his second sprint gold after previously winning the 50m Backstroke gold earlier in the week.