The State Government's effort towards encouraging sporting activities through its various schemes at the school level has started paying rich dividends at the national level meets.
During 2011-12, the players from Chhattisgarh won 121 gold medals, silver (131) and bronze (79) while taking the medal tally to 331 at the national level competitions for school children, an official Press release said on Tuesday.
School Education Minister Brijmohan Agarwal on Tuesday participated in an award ceremony and felicitated 341 players at Government Higher Secondary School premises at Mathpuraina near the State capital carrying a total cash prize of Rs 53 lakh.
The players who were felicitated by the Minister were offered a cash prize and an appreciation letter. The players who had won gold medals were offered cash prize of Rs 21,000 each, silver medal winners were offered a cash prize of Rs 15,000 each and bronze medal winners were offered a cash prize of Rs 10,000 each.
Speaking on the occasion, Agarwal said that the new Chhattisgarh State has reserved its place in the arena of sports in the country's map besides achieving in the area of development of various sectors.
He said that the school level players from Chhattisgarh by improving their performance have brought significant achievements for the State in the sports arena.
During 2011-12, a total of 131 school level players won medals at different national sports meets.
During 2008-09, the players won 100 medals and the tally went up to 165 in 2009-10 and 214 in 2010-11.
The scheme of awarding cash prizes to medal winners of the school level players in the national meets was started in 2006-07.
Similarly, a grant of Rs one lakh is offered for sports activities at the school level in every development block of the State from the previous year, he added.