Khelo India Youth Games 2025: Harsabardhan Sahu and Asmita Dhone Smash National Records in Weightlifting
Patna, May 10 – The opening day of weightlifting at the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2025 Bihar witnessed a display of extraordinary strength and record-breaking performances, with Odisha’s Harsabardhan Sahu and Maharashtra’s Asmita Dhone taking the spotlight.Harsabardhan Sahu Sets Dual National Records in Boys’ 49kg
Hailing from Ganjam district, 15-year-old Harsabardhan Sahu delivered a sensational performance in the boys' 49kg category. A Khelo India Athlete, Sahu rewrote the National Youth Records in both Clean and Jerk (115kg) and Total lift (203kg), following a strong 88kg lift in the Snatch segment. These lifts surpassed the previous marks held by Jharkhand’s Babulal Hembrom.Sahu's teammate, Jyoshna Sabar, reigning Asian Champion in the girls’ 40kg class and a consistent medalist at the IWF World Youth Championships, also secured gold for Odisha with a commanding display.
Asmita Dhone Dominates Girls’ 49kg With Triple Record Haul
Later in the day, Maharashtra’s Asmita Dhone rose to the occasion in the girls’ 49kg category, clinching gold while setting new National Youth Records in Clean and Jerk and Total. Although Uttar Pradesh’s Manasi Chamundaclaimed the Snatch record at 75kg and temporarily held the total record with 163kg, Dhone’s dominant lifts of 91kg, 95kg, and 97kg in Clean and Jerk eclipsed those marks.Each of her three lifts successively raised the bar for the national record in both Clean and Jerk and Total, establishing her as a clear standout on Day 1.
Maharashtra Extends Lead in Medal Tally
Thanks to Dhone’s gold and earlier triumphs by Akanksha Kishore Vyavahare in weightlifting and Kavya Bhatt in girls’ singles table tennis, Maharashtra surged ahead with 27 gold, 21 silver, and 24 bronze medals, solidifying its top spot with 72 medals in total—nearly double that of second-placed Karnataka.Punjab Breaks Into Top Five
Gold medals in skeet shooting by Harazeez Singh Atwal and Risham Kaur Guron propelled Punjab to fifth place, following Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. With six gold medals, Punjab edged out Tamil Nadu, Haryana, and Manipur on silver medal count.Delhi and Assam Celebrate Shooting and Table Tennis Wins
Delhi’s Naamya Kapoor won the gold in the 25m pistol event, edging out Madhya Pradesh’s Anjali Bhagwat by a single point. Assam’s Priyanuj Bhattacharyya claimed the boys’ singles title in table tennis, delivering a major boost to the state’s medal tally.Host Bihar Shows Promise Despite Sepak Takraw Losses
Bihar bagged 19 medals (3 gold, 8 silver, 8 bronze), entering the top half of the medal chart. However, the hosts fell short in both girls’ and boys’ doubles sepak takraw finals. The girls’ team lost a tight contest despite leading 11-4 in the decider, while the boys' team lost to Assam after failing to convert two match points.Karnataka Shines in Shooting After Swimming Ends
With swimming concluded, Karnataka made its mark in shooting, as Naraen Pranav Vanitha Suresh narrowly beat Maharashtra’s Parth Mane by one point to clinch the boys’ 10m air rifle gold, earning valuable points in the overall standings.As Day 1 concludes, the 2025 edition of the Khelo India Youth Games continues to elevate India’s emerging sports talent onto the national stage with electrifying performances and fierce competition.