Badminton Academy to be opened in Ch’garh, announces CM

Central Chronicle News
Raipur, Sep 13: In the meeting held at his residence office today, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had a discussion with the representatives of various sports federations and sportspersons on the topics of sports promotion, development of sports facilities and honing of sports talent in the state. On this occasion, Baghel announced that a badminton academy will be established in the state soon. Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Umesh Patel joined the meeting virtually. Officials of the sports federations and sportsperson associations have important suggestions in the meeting for promotion of sports activities in the state.
Chief Minister said that Chhattisgarh Sports Development Authority has been constituted to improve the sports facilities and to polish the sports talent in the state. Sportspersons would soon be appointed in the committee of this authority. Baghel has directed to start the operation of sports academies in the state with the help of Chhattisgarh Sports Development Authority. He requested the business and industrial groups to come forward and contribute towards the promotion of sports in the state. He requested the industries to choose a sport and sports stadium to promote and maintain under CSR funds. He said that the major industries of the state would be entrusted with the responsibilities of stadium maintenance, appointment of coaches, and arrangement of diet and accommodation facility for the sportspersons. All these arrangements will be made by the industries under CSR head.
During the discussion, Mr. Baghel said that sports coaches of national and international repute will be appointed on contractual basis through the industries. He said that the coach has an important role in nurturing and polishing the budding sports talent. Chief Minister said that State Government would consider making provision for appointment of sportspersons in other departments, as it is done in Police and Forest Department. He directed Chief Secretary to prepare a proposal in the context and present it at the next cabinet meeting.
On the lines of sports facilities being developed by Collector Rajnandgaon and Collector Raigarh at the district headquarters, Chief Minister gave instructions in the meeting to prepare training programs for sportspersons and promote sports by appointing NIS trainers in all district headquarters. Baghel asked all the sports federations to make arrangements for regular sports training with the help of coaches and senior sportspersons. He directed them to pay special attention towards the training facilities of major sports like hockey, archery, swimming, basketball, athletic, badminton etc. He said that world class hockey infrastructure is available in Raipur, Rajnandgaon and Bilaspur. These infrastructures should be utilized to provide advanced training to the budding sports talents in the state.