The Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025 has successfully concluded, marking another milestone in India’s commitment to nurturing young sporting talent and promoting water-based sports across the nation. Organized under the flagship Khelo India initiative, this year’s edition brought together hundreds of athletes from various states, competing in an exciting array of disciplines including rowing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, and swimming.
The festival not only celebrated India’s growing sporting culture but also reinforced the government’s efforts to build a strong ecosystem for athletes to shine at the national and international level. Let’s take a detailed look at the highlights, winners, and significance of the Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025.
Significance of the Khelo India Water Sports Festival
The Khelo India program, launched in 2018, was envisioned to revive sports culture in India by building a robust framework for grassroots-level participation. The water sports edition has been a crucial part of this mission, aiming to:
- Promote lesser-known sports like kayaking, canoeing, and sailing that often do not get mainstream recognition.
- Identify young talent who can represent India at continental and global championships.
- Develop infrastructure for water sports in regions with natural water bodies, especially in states like Kerala, Goa, Odisha, Assam, and Jammu & Kashmir.
- Encourage tourism and local economy, as such festivals often attract visitors and investments to host cities.
The 2025 edition has lived up to these expectations, setting a new benchmark for organization and participation.
Highlights of the 2025 Edition
- Record Participation: Over 1,200 athletes from 28 states and union territories participated this year, making it the largest edition so far.
- New Disciplines Introduced: Paddleboarding and traditional boat racing were added to showcase India’s cultural and modern water sport diversity.
- Green Festival: The event was designed with sustainability in mind, with eco-friendly measures like plastic-free zones and renewable energy setups.
- International Recognition: For the first time, officials from the International Canoe Federation (ICF) and World Sailing observed the festival, praising India’s efforts in expanding water sports.
Winners of Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025
The competitions witnessed several breathtaking performances, with states like Kerala, Assam, and Maharashtra dominating the medal tally. Below is a breakdown of the winners in key categories:
🥇 Rowing
- Men’s Singles Sculls: Arjun Singh (Punjab) – Gold
- Women’s Singles Sculls: Neha Verma (Uttar Pradesh) – Gold
- Men’s Coxless Pair: Kerala Team – Gold
- Women’s Quadruple Sculls: Assam Team – Gold
🥇 Canoeing & Kayaking
- Men’s Kayak 200m: Rohit Das (Assam) – Gold
- Women’s Kayak 200m: Minal Sharma (Madhya Pradesh) – Gold
- Men’s Canoe Sprint 500m: Shivam Kumar (Bihar) – Gold
- Women’s Canoe Sprint 500m: Kerala Team – Gold
🥇 Sailing
- Optimist Class (U-15 Boys): Arnav Iyer (Maharashtra) – Gold
- Optimist Class (U-15 Girls): Sanya Patel (Goa) – Gold
- Laser Radial (Open Category): Vivek Nair (Kerala) – Gold
- RS:X Windsurfing: Anjali Devi (Tamil Nadu) – Gold
🥇 Swimming (Open Water)
- Men’s 5km Marathon: Rakesh Yadav (Delhi) – Gold
- Women’s 5km Marathon: Priya Dutta (West Bengal) – Gold
🥇 Traditional Boat Race
- Men’s Vallam Kali (Snake Boat): Kerala Team – Gold
- Mixed Boat Race Event: Odisha Team – Gold
Medal Tally
| Rank | State | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kerala | 12 | 8 | 5 | 25 |
| 2 | Assam | 10 | 6 | 7 | 23 |
| 3 | Maharashtra | 8 | 5 | 6 | 19 |
| 4 | Uttar Pradesh | 7 | 6 | 4 | 17 |
| 5 | Tamil Nadu | 6 | 4 | 5 | 15 |
| 6 | Goa | 4 | 5 | 3 | 12 |
| 7 | Delhi | 3 | 4 | 2 | 9 |
Kerala emerged as the overall champion, continuing its dominance in water-based sports.
Impact of the Festival
- Boost to Grassroots Sports: The performances proved that with proper training and facilities, Indian athletes can excel in global water sports competitions.
- Pathway to Olympics: Some winners will now undergo advanced training under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
- Tourism Promotion: Host states benefited from increased visibility and footfall, boosting their local economies.
- Women Empowerment: Nearly 40% of participants were women, a significant rise from previous editions, showing inclusivity in sports.
- Future Investments: The government announced plans to develop more water sports academies in Assam, Kerala, and Gujarat.
Voices from the Event
- Union Sports Minister: “The Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025 proves India’s potential in excelling at water sports. Our athletes are ready to shine on the world stage.”
- Winning Athlete, Neha Verma (UP): “Winning gold at this platform is a dream come true. I aim to represent India in the Asian Games next.”
- Coach from Kerala Team: “The infrastructure and exposure we are getting through Khelo India are unparalleled. This will inspire the next generation.”
Looking Ahead
With the successful conclusion of the 2025 edition, the government has already announced that the next Khelo India Water Sports Festival will be held in Goa in 2026, with even more international exposure planned. This marks a clear roadmap for India to become a global hub for water sports, training athletes who can one day bring home Olympic medals.
Conclusion
The Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025 was more than just a sporting event—it was a celebration of India’s culture, talent, and sporting spirit. From rowing to sailing, from traditional boat races to modern kayaking, the festival highlighted India’s immense potential in water-based sports. With Kerala leading the medal tally and young stars emerging across the board, the festival has once again proven that India’s future in sports is bright, diverse, and global.
As India continues its journey towards becoming a sporting powerhouse, the Khelo India Water Sports Festival will remain a crucial stepping stone in empowering athletes and building a culture of sports excellence.