Chhattisgarh committed to fulfilling athletes’ dreams: CM Sai

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Thursday said the state Government was taking concrete steps to promote sports and was committed to fulfilling the dreams of athletes. He was addressing the concluding ceremony of Sansad Khel Mahotsav: Fit Yuva, Viksit Bharat in Raipur. “Such events strengthen the sports culture in the younger generation and provide a powerful platform for talented athletes to progress,” he said.

This festival was organised at 36 different locations in the Raipur parliamentary constituency from August 29 this year. School and college students, as well as citizens from rural and urban areas, participated enthusiastically, he said.

Many athletes will emerge from this sports festival and they will bring glory to Chhattisgarh and the country at the national and international levels. Such events provide a golden opportunity for sporting talents to progress, the CM added. First, second or third place is not everything in sports, but qualities like discipline, team spirit, dedication and continuous practice make a great athlete, he noted.

“The Chhattisgarh Government is committed to fulfilling the dreams of the athletes. The Government is continuously taking concrete steps to promote sports. The Sports Awards ceremony has been restarted in Chhattisgarh. A reward of `21 lakh will be given to players from the state selected for the Olympics, and those who win gold, silver, and bronze medals there will get incentive amounts of `3 crore, `2 crore, and `1 crore respectively,” according to him.

Expressing happiness over Chhattisgarh being awarded the hosting rights for the ‘Khelo India Tribal Games’ in 2026, he said it is a matter of pride for the state. Raipur’s international cricket stadium is the third largest in the country, and major matches will be held there again in January.

Khelo India offices have been established at various locations to nurture new sporting talent, Sai said. Raipur MP Brijmohan Agrawal said along with academics, sports is equally important in life. The festival saw participation from 542 villages and over 85,000 players, a record participation across the country. It showcased a beautiful blend of traditional and modern sports, he said.

The participation of 70-year-old women in the Gedi competition, the enthusiastic performance in games like kabaddi, phugdi and volleyball, and the participation of transgender players in tug-of-war — all conveyed a strong message of social harmony and inclusion. Young people who had dropped out of school also got an opportunity to showcase their talent, and experienced players were honoured, Agrawal said. Approximately 1,500 sports officials, school teachers, and retired sports officials made a significant contribution to the success of this grand event.

Competitions were also organised on university campuses, he added. At the closing ceremony, the winning players were given prizes. The team that secured first place in group sports received a cash prize of `11,000, while the runner-up team received `5,000. In the individual category, the first-place winner received `3,100 and the second-place winner received `1,000. Medals and certificates were also given to the winners.