Jaipur, Nov 12 (UNI) In a grand event at the historic Amer Fort in Jaipur on Wednesday, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), in association with the Government of Rajasthan and the Rajasthan State Sports Council (RSSC), launched the official logo, mascots, torch, jerseys and anthem for the Khelo India University Games Rajasthan 2025 (KIUG Rajasthan 2025).
The Games’ mascots, Khamma and Ghani, were unveiled by the Rajasthan sports minister Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. The mascots are inspired by the state’s official animal- the camel- and the traditional greeting “Khamma Ghani”. They embody Rajasthan’s warmth, resilience and hospitality, welcoming athletes from every corner of India.
The Khelo India University Games Rajasthan 2025, scheduled to take place from November 24 to December 5, will be held across seven cities- Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Ajmer, Bharatpur and Bikaner. This marks the first time Rajasthan will host the Khelo India University Games, a flagship event of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports that showcases India’s finest university athletes.
Over 7,000 athletes from nearly 200 universities will compete in 24 disciplines, including 23 medal sports and one demonstration event. New inclusions this year are canoeing, kayaking, cycling, and beach volleyball- reflecting the growing diversity and ambition of Indian university sport.
In a message, the union minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, said: “In keeping with our promise to create more opportunities for athletes from different sports, I am happy to see a bigger and fuller games programme. This year, we introduced two new Khelo India events- the Beach Games in Diu and the Water Sports Festival at the Dal Lake in Srinagar. The addition of canoeing and kayaking in KIUG is a classic example of continuity and providing more opportunities to those athletes who want to excel in this sport. Anywhere in the world, beach volleyball is the most attractive event and I am sure sports fans in Rajasthan will enjoy this sport very much.”
Dr Mandaviya added: “Athletes at the University level are probably at the peak of their physical prowess.
Worldwide, champions emerge from Universities and we want to empower Universities in a way that they not only produce good students but quality athletes who can serve the nation in global events. As we grow as a sporting nation and want to host big-ticket events like the Olympics, Khelo India University Games are a vital cog in our sporting wheel. I wish every athlete to play fair and give their best.”
