Bihar Clinches Double Gold in Rugby at Khelo India Youth Games 2025

Patna: Bihar’s rugby teams made a memorable debut for the sport at the Patliputra Sports Complex, clinching a double gold against Odisha in the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 here on Friday. The victories, however, came in contrasting styles.

The Bihar girls’ team secured a comfortable 22-0 win, dominating the match and rarely allowing the Odisha girls a chance to score.

In contrast, the boys' final was a closely fought encounter. Bihar overcame a stiff challenge from Odisha to win 14-12 in a pacy and hotly contested match where neither side was willing to concede.

The finals were highly anticipated, given the history of fierce competition between Bihar and Odisha. While the girls' final showcased Bihar's dominance, the boys' title clash had spectators on the edge of their seats, especially when Odisha held a 12-7 lead with only a couple of minutes remaining.

With these victories, Bihar's medal tally now stands at three gold, five silver, and eight bronze. The state is currently ranked 13th on the overall medals table, which is led by Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana in the top five positions.