Bihar Achieves Historic Feat with 12-Medal Tally, Marking a Significant Rise in National Rankings
Bihar has delivered a spectacular performance at the 38th National Games, securing a total of 12 medals – 1 Gold, 6 Silver, and 5 Bronze, marking a major milestone in the state’s sporting history. This remarkable achievement not only surpasses Bihar’s previous performances but also reflects its rising prominence on the national sporting stage.
The success comes as a result of a well-structured approach led by the Bihar Sports Department and Bihar State Sports Authority (BSSA), which has been relentlessly working towards transforming the sporting ecosystem of the state. Before the Bihar contingent left for Uttarakhand, the Sports Department and BSSA had predicted a minimum of 10 medals and a maximum of 12, based on their strategic planning, athlete preparation, and targeted training. The fact that Bihar successfully achieved this goal is a testament to the effectiveness of the strategy and approach adopted for the athletes.
The exceptional performance of Bihar’s athletes was made possible due to the dedicated efforts of the Ad hoc Committee, constituted by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), which played a crucial role in ensuring fair trials, transparent selections, and intensive training camps. This was done in close coordination with the Bihar State Sports Authority (BSSA), ensuring that every athlete received the best possible support, preparation, and motivation leading up to the Games.
Bihar’s elite sports coaches and mentors left no stone unturned in preparing the contingent, ensuring that structured training programs, psychological conditioning, and support were provided to every athlete. The meticulous planning behind Bihar’s campaign led to the athletes competing at their highest potential, showcasing extraordinary resilience and skill across multiple disciplines.
To ensure peak performance, Bihar Sports Department, BSSA and the Ad hoc Committee provided essential logistical and medical support, including specialized training, proper medical care, and essential winter clothing to help athletes adapt to conditions at the Games. The presence of BSSA coaches and support staff on-site further motivated athletes, creating an environment where they could compete with confidence and focus.
Bihar’s sporting journey is witnessing a dynamic transformation, with the state’s athletes making their mark across disciplines. In a landmark moment, Bihar’s women’s team secured Gold in Lawn Bowls, a sport with Commonwealth Games prestige. Their extraordinary triumph marks a new era for sports in Bihar, proving that the state’s strategic investments and athlete-focused policies are yielding results at the highest level.
Bihar’s Anshika Kumari put up an impressive fight in archery, winning silver in the women’s recurve individual event, after a closely contested final against Indian archery legend Deepika Kumari. Her performance against some of the best in the world showcases Bihar’s emerging dominance in the sport.
In a historic milestone, Aakash earned Bihar’s first-ever medal in fencing, claiming silver in the foil event, along with an additional bronze, further boosting the state’s medal tally.
Additionally, the women’s rugby team delivered an outstanding performance, securing Silver after a tough battle against Odisha, highlighting their resilience and growing strength in the sport
Bihar’s athletes continued to make history across multiple disciplines, further solidifying the state’s remarkable performance at the 38th National Games. Bihar also showcased its growing presence in Wushu, clinching one silver and one bronze medal, reflecting the strength and dedication of its martial arts contingent. The Modern Pentathlon team contributed to the medal count with two bronze medals, demonstrating Bihar’s expanding footprint in multi-discipline endurance sports. Additionally, the state celebrated a silver medal in Yogasana, an emerging competitive discipline, highlighting Bihar’s diverse sporting excellence. These victories across varied sports underscore Bihar’s rising sporting culture and the effectiveness of structured athlete development programs.
While Bihar had achieved a 12-medal tally at the 2011 National Games, many of those medals were secured by athletes borrowed from other states. This time, however, every medal was won by homegrown athletes, trained and nurtured within Bihar’s sports ecosystem. This feat stands as a testament to the relentless efforts of the Bihar Sports Department and BSSA, ensuring that athletes from Bihar receive the best training, support, and resources to succeed purely on their merit. The state’s long-term vision of developing its own talent pool is now paying off, proving that Bihar is capable of producing champions on its own soil.
The exceptional efforts of the Bihar Sports Department and BSSA, along with the IOA Ad hoc Committee, received high praise from legendary athlete and IOA President PT Usha. She lauded Bihar’s tremendous progress in the field of sports over the past two years and emphasized that Bihar is now emerging as a strong sporting state. She further stated that Bihar’s impressive performance at the 38th National Games reflects the dedication and happiness of the athletes, which is evident from the medal count.
In a moment of pride for the state, PT Usha accepted the invitation to the Khelo India Youth Games 2025, which Bihar is set to host later this year. Her recognition of Bihar’s sporting evolution and her confidence in the state’s future performances adds further motivation for athletes and officials as they prepare for greater success at the next edition of the National Games.
Bihar Sports Department and BSSA expresses its sincere gratitude to the IOA and the Ad hoc Committee for their dedicated efforts in ensuring athlete welfare, fair selection processes, and training camps. Their unwavering commitment to empowering Bihar’s athletes has been instrumental in this historic performance.
This milestone achievement at the 38th National Games is just the beginning of Bihar’s larger sporting revolution. With ongoing policy reforms, talent development initiatives, and state-level activations, Bihar is now well on its way to becoming a major force in Indian sports. The impressive medal haul at this edition of the Games serves as a strong foundation for future successes, proving that Bihar’s journey towards sporting excellence is well underway.
As Bihar’s athletes continue to make their mark on the national stage, the state remains committed to providing world-class facilities, structured training programs, and holistic support systems to ensure sustained success in the years to come.
The road to sporting glory for Bihar has just begun!
