E-SPORTS MAKES HISTORIC DEBUT

The e-sports industry in India received a significant push with its inclusion as a demonstration sport in the seventh edition of the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) held in Bihar.

- INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE

Making a strong impression, the host state secured multiple top-three finishes across various events, underlining its emergence as a force in this rapidly growing domain.

A total of eight states participated in the demonstration event, competing in disciplines such as BGMI, Chess, Street Fighter 6 and eFootball. The event reflected India's accelerating journey toward recognising e-sports as a legitimate skill-based sport at par with traditional Olympic disciplines.

Among all categories, BGMI continues to hold the top spot as the most popular e-sport in India. Sixteen teams - two from each state - contested for top finishes at KIYG 2025.

Bihar’s A and B teams claimed first and third places, respectively, while Tamil Nadu’s A team was sandwiched between the two home sides.