Chhattisgarh is persistently marching ahead in building up world-class sports infrastructure, courtesy the commitment of the State Government to groom budding talents in all the 27 districts of the State. The Government has also adopted policies to promote sports.
The Government has been making every possible effort to brighten sports talents. Along with world class sports infrastructure, measures have been taken to provide world class sports facilities to sports persons.
The Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium at Naya Raipur has been successful in giving Chhattisgarh a new identity at national and international level. In 2013-14, players of the State in senior, junior and sub junior categories have won 394 medals in different national sports competitions as per the data provided by the Sports department.
Through the Sports and Youth Welfare department, along with development of sports infrastructure and sports facilities at State, district and block level, different sports competitions are organised in the state.
Chief Minister Raman Singh has declared establishment of a Sports University in Rajnandgaon. In the sports university, courses on various subjects related to sports will be conducted. It is hoped that like Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya Khairagarh, this sports university also be proved as excellent and unique university of Chhattisgarh.
An international cricket stadium had been constructed with a cost of `98 crore in 2008. This year, in January, the chief minister had inaugurated an international Astroturf hockey stadium in Rajnandgaon costing `22 crore. A `10.61 crore worth Astroturf hockey stadium has been constructed in the state capital.
A `5.97 crore multipurpose indoor stadium has been constructed in Kondagaon district headquarters. The state government has decided to open sports academy in the state. A provision of `1.10 crore had been made in the budget 2012-13. The state government has allotted 50 acre land in Naya Raipur for the regional office of Sports Authority of India and 15 acre land in Rajnandgaon for construction SAI hostel.
In the 2014-15 budget, Rs 1 crore provision has been made for construction of youth hostel in Raipur and Bilaspur. Well organised effort is being made for the development of sports and to bring talents of players to the fore in the state.
For the first time, in 2005-06, sports promotion rule has been implemented in the state, under which, provision for cash prize to medal winners in national sports, felicitation, fund for motivation of sports unions, track suit to players and accident insurance of players have been made.