Ramavatar chhimpa

Khelo India Youth Games: Rajasthan cyclists' renowned endurance and speed came to the fore yet again at the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2025 Bihar when they won five of the six medals on offer in the 30km boys' and 20km girls' Time Trials on the picturesque Marine Drive along River Ganga here.

Ramavatar Chhimpa, a sweetmeat shop owner’s son from Nokha in Bikaner district who trains in the National Centre of Excellence Patiala, and Manju Choudhary, a farmer’s daughter who moved from Barmer to Bikaner to pursue cycling, emerged winners of the boys' and girls' gold medals, respectively.

Drawn to start last among 17 riders, the 17-year-old Ramavatar Chhimpa showed no signs of impatience, choosing the right time to warm up before he lined up at the start. With a sharp focus on getting his cadence right, he was 38 seconds faster than anyone else over 30km, divided into four laps of 7.5km each. It was clear that he enjoyed his ride and was aware that he had done his best.