Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai called the National Games medal winning players the pride of Chhattisgarh: congratulated the players for becoming Olympic winners
Peace returned to Bastar, and with it the splendor of sports returned, where once people were afraid to even set foot, today thousands of players play there: Chief Minister
Honor money of Rs 1 crore 95 lakh 20 thousand transferred to the bank accounts of 130 players
Raipur 21 March 2025: All of you have brought glory to Chhattisgarh on the national stage with your hard work, talent and passion. This is not just your victory, but the victory of the entire state. You are the diamonds of the sports world of the state. The government will carve you, polish you and take you to the international stage. Every possible resource and support will be made available to you. Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai said this while felicitating the players of Chhattisgarh who won medals in Goa and Uttarakhand National Games at the National Sports Winners Award Ceremony organized at the Chief Minister’s residence today. At the function, the Chief Minister felicitated 72 medal winning players from Chhattisgarh in the 37th National Games held in Goa in the year 2023 and 58 medal winning players of Chhattisgarh in the 38th National Games held in Uttarakhand in the year 2025. While felicitating the players, Chief Minister Sai said that all of you are the pride of Chhattisgarh. You have not only won medals but have also enhanced the prestige of the entire state. All of you have made Chhattisgarh proud. Chief Minister Sai called upon the players to bring laurels to Chhattisgarh and India on global platforms like Asian games, Commonwealth and Olympics.
Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai, in his address, said that today we are all feeling very proud by felicitating the players who won the National Games held in Goa and Uttarakhand. All of you have brought glory to Chhattisgarh with your stellar performance; any amount of praise for you would be less for this. Chief Minister Sai said that we have honored 72 players of the state who won medals in Goa by giving them a sum of Rs. 1 crore 7 lakh 60 thousand and 58 players who won the National Games in Uttarakhand by giving them a sum of Rs. 87 lakh 60 thousand. In this way, through this ceremony, a total honorarium of Rs. 1 crore 95 lakh 20 thousand is being transferred to the accounts of our talented players of Chhattisgarh, 130 national medal winning players. Our government has announced special awards for Olympic winning players. Chief Minister Sai said that our government has announced special awards for the players of the state who will win medals in the Olympic Games. Our government has decided to give Rs 3 crore to the players who win gold medal in the Olympic Games, Rs 2 crore to the players who win silver medal and Rs 1 crore to the players who win bronze medal.
Return of sports in Bastar region, a symbol of new hope and confidence Chief Minister Sai said that after facing Maoist terror for years, when peace returned to Bastar, sports also returned, we organized Bastar Olympics there. He said that where people were once afraid to even set foot, today thousands of players are playing there. There was tremendous enthusiasm among the people, it must have happened rarely in the whole country that 1 lakh 65 thousand participants took part in a sports event and that too such an event which took place in Bastar division where the population is very sparse compared to other places. People who had lost their limbs in Naxal violence also took part in it. Surrendered Naxalites also took part. Naxal violence affected families also took part. This event has raised the expectations of sports lovers of the state. The government is making efforts to provide the best sports infrastructure to the players. The Chief Minister said that the players of our Chhattisgarh have a lot of strength. We are creating excellent infrastructure for sports in Chhattisgarh. We have started 7 new centers of Khelo India. Chhattisgarh has all kinds of sports talents. Keeping this in mind, we have made special arrangements for coaching for different sports. This year we have started three new academies. We have started tennis academy in Raipur, hockey academy in Rajnandgaon and Mallakhamb academy in Narayanpur. Traditional sports will get new life: Chhattisgarh Sports Promotion Scheme of Rs 20 crore The Chief Minister said that Chhattisgarh is also famous for its traditional sports. To ensure proper development of these sports, we have made a provision of Rs 20 crore under Chhattisgarh Sports Promotion Scheme. Our government is committed to promoting sports.
To win in sports, along with efficient strategy and mastery in technique, fitness is also very important. Chief Minister Sai said that a few days ago we saw the amazing feats of Mallakhamb players on the hills of Dholak, it was a mesmerizing scene. Flexibility is very important for Mallakhamb or any kind of sport and all this comes from fitness. To win in sports, along with efficient strategy, mastery in technique, a good level of fitness is also very important. Modi ji has launched the Fit India Movement. Success in sports can definitely be achieved through fitness. By staying fit, you also live a healthy lifestyle, which helps you succeed in whatever work you do. On this occasion, Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Tankaram Verma, while encouraging the players in his address, said that the Chhattisgarh government under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai is committed to promoting sports. He said that the youth of the state have immense sporting talent. Recognizing and honing it is our priority. On this occasion, Sports Department Secretary Himshikhar Gupta, Director Mrs. Tanuja Salam, Chhattisgarh Olympic Association General Secretary Vikram Sisodiya were present.