Latest news with #KIBG2025
India Gazette
26-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Tourism will reach new heights in Kutch": PM Modi roots for hosting beach games simultaneously with Rann Utsav
Bhuj (Gujarat) [India], May 26 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants the beach games, which recently gained popularity, to be hosted simultaneously with Rann Utsav, which will act as a catalyst in boosting tourism in Kutch. In the recently concluded Khelo India Beach Games (KIBG) 2025, held in Daman and Diu, 811 athletes took part in six medal sports, including pencak silat, sepak-takraw, soccer, volleyball, open sea swimming and kabaddi. Mallakhamb, tug-of-war were the non-medal demonstration sports. Forty-six gold medals were at stake, and 31 states and Union Territories participated in the beach sports carnival. While referencing the success of KIBG 2025, PM Modi believes that if such a tournament is hosted on the coast of Mandvi Beach simultaneously with Rann Utsav, Kutch's tourism will soar to a new level. 'Tourism will grow here. I request Bhupendra bhai and all leaders present here when our Rann Utsav takes place, then why don't we hold beach competitions at the same time? Beach games have gained popularity recently,' PM Modi said on Monday in Bhuj. 'Not long ago, a national competition was held in Diu with thousands of children participating in the event. I want the beach games to take place simultaneously with Rann Utsav regularly. In a way, Kutch will soar to new heights in tourism. If you want any help, I am always present,' PM Modi added. Earlier, PM Modi held a roadshow in Gujarat's Bhuj and later inaugurated multiple development projects worth over Rs 53,400 crore. He received a warm welcome. People waved at him and greeted him enthusiastically. The Prime Minister said that the projects launched today will accelerate progress in power, ports and other infrastructure. The projects from the power sector include transmission projects for evacuating renewable power generated in the Khavda Renewable Energy Park, transmission network expansion, and an ultra-supercritical thermal power plant unit at Tapi. It also includes projects of the Kandla port and multiple road, water and solar projects of the Gujarat government. (ANI)
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Fishermen from tamil nadu win silver at khelo india beach games
They received no formal coaching, but Robin Ravi and S Bharat, members of Tamil Nadu 's fishing community who smashed their way to a silver at the Khelo India Beach Games (KIBG) 2025 last week in Diu, say they got the hang of beach volleyball because "playing on the sand is second nature" to them. "We live on the beach. Walking, working, and playing on the sand is life," says 23-year-old Bharath, who hails from Palavakkam. "We also represented India at international events such as the Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA) Continental Cup in Bangladesh in 2023, winning bronze," says Ravi of Mayiladuthurai. "Our wins have kindled a passion for the sport among young boys and girls from the fishing hamlets." The fishing community has a natural advantage, says A J Martin Sudhakar, veteran volleyball coach and administrator who was also the competition manager for the sport at KIBG 2025. "The community has given us some of the strongest players in the game. Their lifestyle of pulling fishing nets, walking on shifting sand, and constant exposure to the sun builds stamina, balance, and strength needed for beach volleyball. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like O brinde do momento Balinhas Personalizadas Compre já Undo Their lower bodies are already conditioned for the uneven terrain. That's why they excel." Bharat and Robin say the biggest deterrent for them is a lack of funds to train and travel for tournaments. "We were selected in the first round of the Asian Games last year, but because we couldn't afford tickets to attend the second round, we lost the opportunity to take part in the Olympics. Our coach, though, is helping us now," says Bharath, whose father is a plumber. He adds that he and Robin are pursuing a master's degree in hopes of finding a govt job. "If these players get govt jobs, more youngsters from the community will take up the sport professionally." Email your feedback with name and address to
India Gazette
22-05-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
Khelo India Beach Games 2025: Maharashtra's Diksha Yadav clinches double gold in open sea swimming
Diu (Daman and Diu) [India], May 22 (ANI): Maharashtra's Diksha Yadav continued her exploits at the inaugural Khelo India Beach Games, sweeping both gold medals on offer in the Open Sea Swimming event. The 19-year-old from Maharashtra, picked up the yellow metal in both 10km and the 5km events at the Ghoghla Beach, Diu on Thursday morning. In the men's 5km open swim for men, Karnataka's Drupad Ramakrishna won gold, according to the SAI Media Release. Diksha, who has fallen in love with long-distance swimming, started playing when she was in class 10, training at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune. This is just her second year in open water swimming, having been inspired by the accomplished American swimmer Katie Ledecky. 'The double gold at KIBG 2025 is an achievement for all the practice I have undergone before coming here,' said Diksha after her 5km victory on Thursday morning. She recorded a time of 1 hour, 10 minutes and 12 seconds en route to her gold, as quoted from the SAI Media Release. This was also her first time challenging the Arabian Sea. 'The water was calm, and there wasn't much difficulty. This Khelo India platform will help a lot going forward. Now I am focusing on getting the international selection this year and winning a medal for India at the World Championship open swimming category,' Diksha Yadav added. In the men's 5km open swim, Karnataka's Drupad Ramakrishna recorded a time of 1 hour, six minutes, and 46 seconds to win the gold. However, the class 10 student is looking for more in his career, and the medal at the Khelo India Beach Games is just a pit-stop. 'I have more competitions to go and more years to perform. I am hungry for more medals,' said the 15-year-old Dhrupad. 'At the Basavanagudi aquatic centre in Bangalore, we train continuously for 1-2 hours to adjust to sea swimming. Therefore, there is not much difference between there and here. Just that there are more waves here,' he added. Results: 5km open Men: 1. Drupad Ramakrishna (Karnataka) 1:06:46; 2. Gundu Vishnu Vardhan (Telangana) 1:06:58; 3. Hemanth A (Tamil Nadu) 1:07:41 Women: 1. Diksha Yadav (Maharashtra) 1:10:12; 2. Purva Gawade (Maharashtra) 1:10:25; 3. Aasra R Sudhir (Karnataka) 1:10:29. (ANI)
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Stars align on Diu's shores for inaugural Khelo India Beach Games opening ceremony
If someone is flying out to Diu for a getaway between May 19 and 24, they won't be able to ignore the Khelo India Beach Games (KIBG) even if they tried. Almost every 100 metres, one can see hoardings of the inaugural edition planted along the Airport Road. Faces of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Praful Patel and others graced the posters with the statement Khel ke sitare, Diu ke kinare (Stars of the games, by Diu's shore) splashed underneath. On Monday evening, by the shores of Ghoghla Beach, the opening ceremony of the KIBG 2025 was a grand affair. The whole programme had a patriotic tinge to it, with the singers prompting the crowd – consisting mostly of the athletes themselves – chant Bharat Mata ki Jai and Vande Maataram ever so often. Khelo India Youth Games 2025: Maharashtra bags hat-trick of titles; Bihar impresses on home turf Energetic tunes were played – including cult classics like Rang De Basanti and Dangal's title tracks – which compelled the crowd to shake a leg and wave the tricolour in their hands with great fervour. In attendance were dignitaries like Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Patel, with the former making an entrance on A.R. Rahman's Jai Ho. Artists perform dance during opening ceremony of Khelo India Beach Games 2025 at Ghoghla Beach, located on Diu Island, a union territory in India on May 19, 2025. | Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP/ The Hindu 'I see the Diu fort lit up. In the sea, our fishermen brothers have decked up the boats. The waves are the source of excitement and the sands give us energy,' Mandaviya said, speaking highly of the preparation done for the Games – the first under the Khelo India initiative. Moreover, the minister revealed plans of making Diu the venue for the Khelo India Beach Games for years to come. The ceremony also had all the participating States and Union Territories do a parade of their contingents, quite similar to the Olympics. The loudest cheers were reserved for host Daman and Diu and Gujarat. And the evening was capped off by a show of fireworks, as the athletes dispersed to prepare for what would be an action-packed next few days.
India Gazette
20-05-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
Beach kabaddi explained: Why it is more challenging than indoor kabaddi
Diu (Daman and Diu) [India] May 20 (ANI): Beach kabaddi is looking to leave a long-lasting impression on the Khelo India Beach Games 2025 in Diu. The popular form of kabaddi that's played on a mat is very well received in India, and there is also a very popular kabaddi league that's catering to the audience concerned, according to a release from SAI media. However, beach kabaddi is a new concept. Last year, when the Diu Beach Games were organised, beach kabaddi was also a part of the program. Simrat Gaikwad, working in the capacity of a venue coordinator and senior coach at the Ghoghla beach, the epicentre for all eight KIBG games, including two demonstration ones, believes these are exciting times for beach kabaddi. 'It's a new concept. Khelo India Beach Games are a great platform for the sport. It will definitely help popularise the sport,' she said. Delhi girls' kabaddi team coach Sunita also has high hopes. 'It's a totally different setting with the beautiful sea in the background. Kabaddi is, anyway, quite popular in India. Hopefully, beach kabaddi will make a mark too,' she said. Beach kabaddi is more challenging than the popular kabaddi in that here you are dealing with the elements. For example, your feet are partially or fully buried in sand and that makes movements difficult. Then you play in the sun, and as a result, you require more stamina. Sea breeze also picks up at times, and at other times, there is no sign of it. So, all these aspects affect a player's performance, making beach kabaddi all the more challenging. Sunita also added that non-coastal states have a little extra to deal with since the conditions here are totally alien to them. 'The artificial sand turf that we have is good, but the environment here is totally different and much more challenging,' she said. Gaikwad, who has participated in seven national championships and has multiple laurels to her name, is currently is based in Thane, Mumbai. She believes the sport has a future, even though at present there is a lot of progress to be made. 'Once these events happen often, more and more people with gravitate towards it. You want to have a viable career option. Once that happens, beach kabaddi can grow in a desired way,' she said. While the essence of beach kabaddi is pretty similar to that of popular kabaddi but in terms of rules and regulations, it's slightly different. For example, it has four players a side, instead of seven. Instead of 20 minutes each, both halves here are 15 minutes each. Players can't be revived either. It's a smaller field of play to boot. All these have been incorporated into the sport, keeping in mind the challenging conditions at beaches. At KIBG 2025, there are two pools across boys and girls with eight teams each. The top two teams from these groups will advance to the semifinals. The beach kabaddi matches kicked off on Tuesday, and both the finals will be played on the final day of the KIBG on Saturday. (ANI)
