Baghel inaugurates Football, Kabaddi, Archery and Athletics Academy

Raipur, Sept 25: Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has unveiled a major gift for sportspersons and sports lovers of the state. He inaugurated and performed bhumipujan of the new sports facilities worth nearly Rs 42 crore 14 lakh in Bilaspur and Raipur. These mainly include academies for football, kabaddi, archery and athletics, two sports hostels, an archery training sub-centre and synthetic track and field for athletics. While virtually inaugurating and performing bhumipujan of the new sports facilities from his residence office today, Chief Minister congratulated the sportspersons and the officials of Sports Federation. He expressed hope that with the development of sports facilities in the state, sportspersons here would bring laurels to the name of Chhattisgarh in the country and the world. On this occasion, Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Umesh Patel presided over the program virtually.
Chief Minister further said that it is a great day for the sportspersons, sports coaches, sports-lovers and youngsters. With the expansion of sports facilities in the state, we need to be careful that the sports activities do not get confined to the cities. Keeping the sports tradition alive in rural areas of the state is extremely important. Chief Minister said that the rural talent should get the benefits of sports academies, good playgrounds, good coaches and sports infrastructure being started in big cities of the state.
Chief Minister further said that state government will not allow any shortage of funds for expansion of the sports facilities in Chhattisgarh. He said that Chhattisgarh Sports Development Authority has been constituted in the state, and sportspersons will be appointed soon in the committee of this authority. In order to encourage development of sports and sportspersons in the state, Chhattisgarh government has made provision to appoint sportspersons in various departments, besides police and forest departments.
Chief Minister said that Rajiv Gandhi Yuva Mitan Club scheme has been launched in Chhattisgarh, under which as many as 13 thousand 269 Rajiv Gandhi Yuva Mitan Clubs are being constituted in the state. Besides promoting cultural and sports activities through these clubs, these clubs will inculcate leadership skills in the youngsters. He said that the state-level selection of sportspersons for Athletics, Archery and Hockey Academies in Bilaspur would be held on October 11, 12
and 13.
Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Umesh Patel, while presiding over the program, said that sports infrastructure and facilities being developed in Chhattisgarh under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel would yield promising results in the near future. Minister-in-charge Jaisingh Agrawal said that the much-awaited demands for sports facilities have been fulfilled today. He thanked Chief Minister for naming Bilaspur Stadium after Late BR Yadav and for establishing academies of sports there.
Member of Parliament Arun Sao, Chairman of Chhattisgarh Tourism Board Atal Shrivastava, Parliamentary Secretary Rashmi Ashish Singh, Secretary General of Chhattisgarh Olympic Association Gurucharan Hora and officials of various sports associations expressed their views in the program and said that Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has kept his promise of promoting sports in Chhattisgarh. Many old demands related to sports have been fulfilled today. Member of Parliament Arun Sao said that the 15-year-old vision of Sports Training Academy in Bilaspur has been realized by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel today. This sports complex of Bilaspur will prove helpful in advancing the sportspersons of the region. At the onset, Secretary, Sports and Youth Welfare Department, NN Ekka delivered the welcome address. Proposing vote of thanks at the end, Director Sports and Youth Welfare Shweta Srivastava Sinha said that with the development of sports facilities in the state, the sports talent in the state would realize the vision of Khelbo-Jeetbo, Gadbo Nava Chhattisgarh.
Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu, Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey, School Education Minister Dr Premsai Singh Tekam, Food Minister Amarjeet Bhagat, Forest Minister Mohammad Akbar, Revenue Minister Jaisingh Agarwal, Rajya Sabha MP Chhaya Verma were present at the Chief Minister’s residence. Chairman of Chhattisgarh State Home Construction Board, Kuldeep Juneja, Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Subrat Sahoo, Secretary to Chief Minister Siddharth Komal Singh Pardeshi, office bearers of various sports federations and sports enthusiasts were present at the venue of Raipur and Bilaspur.