Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025 winners announced as Madhya Pradesh tops medal tally at Dal Lake, Srinagar. Odisha and Kerala follow with strong performances in kayaking, canoeing, and rowing.
Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025 Concludes at Dal Lake — A New Dawn for India’s Water Sports (Approx. 300+ words)
Introduction: A Transformative Event on Dal Lake
The Khelo India Water Sports Festival (KIWSF) 2025, held from August 21 to 23, marked a historic milestone for Indian sports. Hosted at the enchanting Dal Lake in Srinagar, this was the inaugural national-level, open-age competition in kayaking, canoeing, rowing, and other water sports Conceived under the Khelo India mission, the festival served as a vital platform to identify and groom talent for forthcoming global events like the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics
Madhya Pradesh Emerges as the Powerhouse
Madhya Pradesh dominated the medal tally, clinching a staggering 18 medals—including 10 golds, 3 silvers, and 5 bronzes—with a sweeping performance in kayaking and canoeing The state’s success was credited to the State Water Sports Academy of Excellence, guided by coach Ankush Sharma and assistant coach Champa Mourya, who stressed the importance of disciplined training and mental resilience
Odisha and Kerala Follow Suit
Odisha earned the second spot with 10 medals, and Kerala secured third place with 7 medals Athletes like Rasmita Sahoo, Bidya Devi Oinam, and Shruti Tanaji Chougule (Jagatpur, Odisha); Dally Bishnoi, Shikha Chauhan, Pallavi Jagtab (MP); and Vishal Dangi (Uttarakhand) delivered standout performances, signaling the effectiveness of structured training at SAI centres across the country
Festival Beyond Medals: A Broader Vision
Spread across six disciplines—kayaking, canoeing, rowing, water skiing, shikara racing, and dragon boat—the festival drew participation from 28 states and Union Territories It highlighted India’s potential as a sports tourism destination, blending cultural richness with ecological beauty at Dal Lake Additionally, 47 athletes from various SAI training centres collectively won 5 golds, 7 silvers, and 3 bronzes, with Jagatpur emerging as the most successful with 3 golds and 5 silvers
Looking Ahead: Springboard to Global Success
The KIWSF has been hailed as a strategic springboard for India’s Olympic ambitions, supported by schemes like TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) and TAGG (Target Asian Games Group) It reinforces the government’s resolve under Khelo India and the newer Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 to expand sports participation, infrastructure, and excellence nationwide
B) Why This News Is Important
Enhancing India’s Olympic Prospects
The KIWSF 2025 plays a pivotal role in positioning India as a serious contender in kayaking, canoeing, and rowing at the Olympic level. Hosting a national-level, open-age event creates a competitive environment that mirrors global standards and accelerates the readiness of athletes for Los Angeles 2028 and beyond.
Strategic Sports Development & Talent Nurturing
The event shines a spotlight on the critical role of state-level academies, such as MP’s Academy of Excellence and SAI centres in Odisha and Kerala. Their success underscores the importance of structured training ecosystems, coaching excellence, and mental preparedness in building world-class athletes.
Cultural Diplomacy & Sports Tourism
By staging the festival at Dal Lake, known for its scenic and cultural significance, the event served as a meeting point between cultural heritage and sports diplomacy. It also promotes the potential of Jammu & Kashmir as a promising hub for sports and tourism.
Policy Validation & Future Momentum
The successful execution of KIWSF aligns with broader initiatives like Khelo India and Khelo Bharat Niti 2025, confirming the government’s commitment to grassroots sports development, women’s empowerment, and equitable sports infrastructure—even in remote regions.
Exam Relevance
For candidates preparing for roles like teacher, police officer, banking, railways, defence, or civil services, this festival provides rich, exam-worthy content: from details on medal tallies and athlete profiles to insights on governance, infrastructure, and sports policy frameworks.
C) Historical Context: Background & Related Developments
Evolution of Khelo India & Sports Ecosystem
Launched in 2017–18, the Khelo India mission has grown into a diversified sports development program across India It includes initiatives like the Youth Games, University Games, Beach Games, and now the Water Sports Festival.
Historic Addition: Water Sports to Khelo Calendar
KIWSF 2025 represents the first-ever national, open-age water sports event under the Khelo banner. Held at Dal Lake between August 21–23, it introduced six disciplines—rowing, canoeing, kayaking, water skiing, shikara racing, and dragon boat—while drawing participants from 28 states and UTs
Strong Performance of State Training Hubs
Economic and sports hubs like Bhopal, Jagatpur (Odisha), and Alappuzha (Kerala) proved vital. The performance of athletes from these regions highlights the growing impact of SAI Centres of Excellence
Linking to Olympic Pathways
The KIWSF’s timing and setup are seminal in India’s broader Olympic strategy, bolstered by programs like TOPS and TAGG, which aim to spotlight the nation’s potential in sports like kayaking and canoeing
D) Key Takeaways from “Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025”
| S. No. | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| 1 | Madhya Pradesh’s dominance: MP topped the medal tally with 18 medals—10 gold, 3 silver, and 5 bronze—thanks to disciplined training at its Water Sports Academy of Excellence. |
| 2 | Top performers: Odisha (10 medals) and Kerala (7 medals) also delivered strong performances, reflecting effective athlete development at SAI centres. |
| 3 | Broad-based participation: The festival featured six water sports disciplines and attracted athletes from 28 states and Union Territories, demonstrating growing national interest in water sports. |
| 4 | Strategic vision: KIWSF aligns with India’s ambition for global sporting success, supporting Olympic and Asian Games preparations via schemes like TOPS and TAGG. |
| 5 | Policy-driven growth: The event underscores the success of Khelo India initiatives and the newer Khelo Bharat Niti, reinforcing the government’s commitment to grassroots sports, inclusive participation, and infrastructure expansion. |
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025?
It is the first-ever national-level open-age water sports competition under the Khelo India mission, held from 21–23 August 2025 at Dal Lake, Srinagar.
2. Which state topped the medal tally at KIWSF 2025?
Madhya Pradesh secured the highest medal count with 18 medals, including 10 golds.
3. What were the main disciplines featured in KIWSF 2025?
The event featured kayaking, canoeing, rowing, water skiing, shikara racing, and dragon boat competitions.
4. Which states ranked second and third in the medal tally?
Odisha stood second with 10 medals, while Kerala came third with 7 medals.
5. Why was Dal Lake chosen as the venue?
Dal Lake was selected for its cultural significance, tourism potential, and suitability for water sports, projecting Jammu & Kashmir as a sports and tourism hub.
6. How many states and Union Territories participated in KIWSF 2025?
Athletes from 28 states and Union Territories took part in the festival.
7. How does KIWSF 2025 support India’s Olympic ambitions?
By offering competitive exposure and talent identification in kayaking, canoeing, and rowing, it contributes to India’s preparation for events like the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
8. What role do SAI centres play in such events?
Sports Authority of India centres provide structured training, coaching, and support that nurture medal-winning athletes.
9. What government schemes are linked to KIWSF 2025?
TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) and TAGG (Target Asian Games Group) schemes are aligned with the event to enhance global competitiveness.
10. What broader policy framework does the festival align with?
It aligns with Khelo India initiatives and the Khelo Bharat Niti 2025, focused on grassroots development, infrastructure, and inclusivity in sports.
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