Over ₹1.74 crore in awards and incentives distributed to 666 players and coaches; ₹100-crore Khel Utkarsh Mission to strengthen sports ecosystem
TFP Bureau, Raipur, August 29, 2026: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Saturday honoured 126 outstanding sportspersons and coaches with the State Sports Awards, reaffirming the Chhattisgarh government’s commitment to identifying, nurturing and promoting sporting talent on national and international platforms.
The awards ceremony was organised at Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium in Raipur to mark National Sports Day and the birth anniversary of legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand.
Awards were presented to sportspersons and coaches for their achievements during 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26. In addition, 540 other players received cash incentives. In all, 666 players and coaches were awarded prize money and incentives amounting to ₹1.74 crore.
Congratulating the awardees, Sai said the hard work, discipline and determination of athletes on the sporting field brought pride not only to themselves but also to Chhattisgarh and the country.
He said athletes from the state were increasingly making their presence felt at national and international competitions and assured that lack of resources or opportunities would not prevent talented youngsters from pursuing sporting careers.
Deputy Chief Minister and Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Arun Sao, Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu, Culture Minister Rajesh Agrawal, Technical Education Minister Guru Khushwant Saheb, and MPs Brijmohan Agrawal and Vijay Baghel attended the ceremony.
156 outstanding athletes set for government service
Sai said the state government was taking measures not only to recognise sporting achievements but also to secure the future of athletes.
He said a list of 156 outstanding sportspersons who have excelled in national and international competitions over the past three years had recently been released, paving the way for their appointment to government service.
The initiative, he said, would strengthen the confidence of young people in choosing sports as a viable career option.
Bastar Olympics creating new sporting opportunities
The Chief Minister highlighted the Bastar Olympics as an important platform for identifying sporting talent in the state’s tribal and remote areas.
He said 1.65 lakh youngsters participated in the first edition, while participation increased to 3.91 lakh in the second year. The large-scale participation, he said, reflected growing enthusiasm among youth and the positive changes taking place in Bastar.
The government has also provided platforms through the Sarguja Olympics, while Chhattisgarh successfully hosted the Khelo India Tribal Games. These initiatives, Sai said, are helping identify talent and provide young athletes with opportunities for training and competition.
₹100 crore allocated for Khel Utkarsh Mission
Sai said the state government was pursuing five missions to promote sports and athletes, including the Mukhyamantri Khel Utkarsh Mission, for which ₹100 crore has been allocated.
The objective is to establish a comprehensive sports ecosystem covering talent identification, professional training, modern equipment, infrastructure and exposure to major national and international competitions.
The government, he said, was working to ensure that athletes receive the facilities and competitive exposure required to perform at higher levels.
Sports infrastructure gets major boost
The Chief Minister said sports infrastructure was being expanded across Chhattisgarh, with sports complexes being developed in Kunkuri, Raigarh and Raipur.
An archery academy is being constructed in Naya Raipur at an estimated cost of ₹67 crore, while another archery academy is being developed at Pandrapat at a cost of around ₹18 crore to nurture the natural archery talent of the Pahadi Korwa community.
Sai said tribal areas were home to considerable natural sporting talent and that systematic training, modern facilities and appropriate competition platforms could help these athletes reach national and international levels.
Sao: No shortage of sporting talent
Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao said Chhattisgarh’s geographical and cultural diversity provided favourable conditions for the development of several sports.
He said the state had no shortage of sporting talent and that the priority was to identify, train and provide adequate opportunities to promising athletes.
Sao highlighted the selection of Geeta Yadav and Madhu Sidar from the Bilaspur Sports Academy for India’s team for the Asia Cup, describing it as a matter of pride for the state.
He said initiatives such as Khelo India had created a positive sporting environment across the country, with athletes from Chhattisgarh also benefiting from the expanded opportunities.
Tokhan Sahu highlights India’s growing sporting ecosystem
Union Minister of State Tokhan Sahu recalled the contribution of Major Dhyan Chand in bringing global recognition to Indian hockey and said sportspersons from Chhattisgarh were now carrying forward that legacy in different disciplines.
He said the Narendra Modi government’s emphasis on encouragement, modern facilities and opportunities for athletes had created a positive environment for sports in the country.
MP Brijmohan Agrawal said Chhattisgarh’s athletes would have significant opportunities in the coming years and expressed confidence that they would win medals at major international events, including the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and Olympics.
State Sports Awards presented across multiple categories
The State Sports Awards recognised athletes and coaches in several categories, including the Shaheed Rajiv Pandey Award, Shaheed Kaushal Yadav Award, Veer Hanuman Singh Award, Shaheed Pankaj Vikram Samman, Shaheed Vinod Chaubey Samman and the Chief Minister’s Trophy.
The awards covered achievements across a wide range of disciplines, including athletics, hockey, fencing, weightlifting, badminton, swimming, archery, shooting, football, volleyball, wrestling, table tennis, wushu, para-sports, kayaking and canoeing, among others.
The Chief Minister’s Trophy was also presented to outstanding team performers, including the Bilaspur Para-Wheelchair Fencing Team in the senior category and the Bilaspur Archery Team in the senior women’s category.
The ceremony underscored the state’s broader effort to build a sustainable sports ecosystem in which talent from both urban and tribal areas can receive professional training, modern infrastructure and opportunities to compete at the highest levels.
