Khelo India Youth Games 2025: Odisha's Harsabardhan Sahu and Jyoshna Sabar Shine with Gold Medals

Outstanding Performances at Khelo India Youth Games 2025

Patna (Bihar) [India], May 10: Just ten days after earning medals for India at the World Youth Weightlifting Championships in Lima, Peru, Harsabardhan Sahu and Jyoshna Sabar displayed exceptional talent at the Rajgir Sports Complex during the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 in Bihar, each securing a gold medal for Odisha on Saturday.

Harsabardhan Sahu, a 15-year-old athlete from Ganjam district, celebrated his upcoming 16th birthday on May 22 by setting two National Youth Records in the boys' 49kg category. He achieved remarkable lifts of 115kg in Clean and Jerk and a total of 203kg, following an 88kg lift in Snatch, surpassing the previous records held by Jharkhand's Babulal Hembrom.

Meanwhile, Jyoshna Sabar, hailing from Gajapati district, is a three-time medalist at the IWF World Youth Championships, including a bronze in Lima on April 30. As the reigning Asian Champion in the girls' 40kg class, she dominated her competition to secure gold for her state.

Later in the day, Maharashtra's Asmita Dhone and Uttar Pradesh's Manasi Chamunda also set new National Youth Records in the girls' 49kg category. While Asmita initially lost the Snatch record to Manasi, who lifted 75kg, she excelled in Clean and Jerk, achieving lifts of 91kg, 95kg, and 97kg, which helped her set a new total record.

Earlier on Saturday, Maharashtra added two gold medals to its tally, with Akanksha Kishore Vyavahare marking the state's entry into the Weightlifting events and Kavya Bhatt winning the girls' singles title in Table Tennis. With a total of 72 medals, including 27 gold, Maharashtra firmly leads the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 Bihar medal standings.

Punjab climbed to fifth place in the medal table, thanks to gold medals from skeet shooters Harazeez Singh Atwal and Risham Kaur Guron. Both Punjab and Tamil Nadu have six gold medals, but Punjab boasts more silver medals.

In a notable achievement, Delhi and Assam each secured a gold medal on Saturday. Naamya Kapoor from Delhi triumphed in the 25m Pistol event, narrowly defeating Anjali Bhagwat from Madhya Pradesh, while Assam's Priyanuj Bhattacharyya won gold in the boys' singles final.

Hosts Bihar faced disappointment in two sepak takraw finals, losing to Nagaland in the girls' doubles after leading 11-4, and to Assam in the boys' doubles final, where they saved two match points but ultimately lost 17-15.

With a total of 19 medals (three gold, eight silver, and eight bronze), Bihar has made a strong showing in the medal standings.

On a day when only 13 gold medals were available, Karnataka celebrated its first gold in a different sport, with Naraen Pranav Vanitha Suresh winning the boys' 10m Air Rifle title by a narrow margin over Maharashtra's Parth Mane.

Harsabardhan Sahu's impressive third lift in Clean and Jerk, which earned him two National Youth Records, was undoubtedly the highlight of the day and perhaps the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 Bihar so far.