Esports to feature as a demonstration sport at Khelo India Youth Games 2025
In a landmark ruling for Indian Esports, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya declared that Esports will make its debut as a demonstration sport at the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2025. The declaration, made on 4 April, marks a significant milestone towards the mainstream acceptance of Esports in India. The event, to be hosted in Bihar from 4 to 15 May 2025, reflects the increasing traction of Esports in the national sporting landscape.
Khelo India Youth Games 2025
Since its inception, KIYG has served as a crucial platform for budding athletes, offering exposure to competitive sports and talent identification. The initiative also provides an annual scholarship of ₹5 lakh (€5900) for eight years to 1,000 selected athletes, helping them prepare for international competitions.
Esports as a demonstration sport at KIYG 2025
A “demonstration sport” is a competition in a multi-sport event to test its validity for inclusion in subsequent editions. The inclusion of Esports in KIYG 2025 reflects its validity as a competitive sport. As a demonstration sport, it will give Indian players systematic exposure to national-level competition and lay the groundwork for future permanent inclusion in KIYG editions.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya stated, “The Khelo India Youth Games 2025 will be held in Bihar where Esports will make its debut as a demo sport; the event will feature 28 sports, 27 competitive and one demo sport in Esports.”
The 27 competitive sports that will be part of KIYG 2025 are athletics, archery, badminton, basketball, boxing, cycling, fencing, football, gatka, gymnastics, hockey, judo, kabaddi, kalarippayattu, kho-kho, mallakhamb, shooting, swimming, sepak takraw, table tennis, tennis, thang-ta, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, yogasana, and rugby, with Esports as a demo sport.
Industry leaders welcome the move
Prominent figures in the Indian Esports ecosystem have hailed this move as a game-changer.
Animesh Agarwal (S8UL CEO): “The entry of Esports into the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 is a milestone for the Indian ecosystem. This validation not only further legitimises Esports as a new-age sport but also positions our athletes alongside traditional sporting disciplines, deserving of the respect and stature they have earned.”
Vishal Parekh (COO, CyberPowerPC India): “The addition of Esports as a demonstration sport at the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 is a significant step for the Indian video gaming community. It not only gives legitimacy to Esports in the national sporting calendar but also offers young gamers a chance to compete on an organised platform and experience the intensity of high-stakes tournaments, essential learning for future events like the Asian Games and even the Olympics.”
Siddharth Nayyar (CEO, Max Level): “The incorporation of Esports in the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 is a watershed moment for the industry, lending much-needed credibility to competitive gaming as a mainstream sport. This initiative will not only provide young talent with a structured route but also lead parents to consider it a viable career choice.”
Esports and the Olympic connection
Esports has already made its mark on the global platform. It was a medal sport in the 2022 Asian Games and will again be featured in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The Olympic Esports Games 2027 is also in the pipeline, further establishing the legitimacy of Esports as an international sport. India’s involvement in these events will be vital to its position in competitive gaming.
Over the past decade, India has experienced exponential growth in Esports, fuelled by increasing internet penetration and smartphone accessibility, the rise of professional gaming tournaments, the emergence of content creators and streamers, and expanding sponsorships and investments in the industry.
