Raipur, Chhattisgarh: The grand closing ceremony of the Parliamentary Sports Festival, “Fit Youth, Developed India”, was held with great enthusiasm at the Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium in Raipur. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai attended the event as the chief guest.
National Leaders Address Participants via Video Conference
During the ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya, and MPs from across the country joined via video conferencing and addressed the participants. Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Sai emphasized the government’s commitment to fulfilling the dreams of athletes. He extended greetings on Good Governance Day and paid tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, noting that such events strengthen sports culture among youth and provide a platform for emerging talents.
Festival Engaged Students and Athletes Across 36 Locations
The Chief Minister highlighted that the festival was conducted over four months across 36 locations in the Raipur parliamentary constituency, involving enthusiastic participation from students of schools and colleges, as well as athletes from both rural and urban areas. He stressed that sports are not just a means to win medals but also teach discipline, hard work, teamwork, and dedication, and expressed hope that the talents emerging from this festival will bring national and international recognition to the state and the country.
Government Initiatives to Promote Sports
Highlighting government initiatives, Chief Minister Sai announced the resumption of the Sports Award Ceremony in Chhattisgarh. Athletes selected for the Olympics will receive ₹21 lakh, while medal winners will be awarded ₹3 crore for gold, ₹2 crore for silver, and ₹1 crore for bronze. He also announced that Chhattisgarh will host the Khelo India Tribal Games in 2026. Raipur’s International Cricket Stadium, the third-largest in the country, is scheduled to host major matches starting January.
Record Participation and Diverse Sporting Events
MP Brijmohan Agrawal shared that the festival began on August 29 and successfully concluded across 36 locations in the Raipur constituency. The event witnessed participation from 542 villages and over 85,000 athletes, setting a new record. He highlighted the balanced inclusion of traditional and modern sports, such as the women’s Gedi competition for participants up to 70 years, kabaddi, fugdi, volleyball, and tug-of-war for transgender participants, promoting social harmony.
Acknowledging Efforts of Organizers and Award Ceremony
Agrawal acknowledged the efforts of around 1,500 sports officials, teachers, and retired athletes who contributed to the festival’s success. Competitions were also held on university campuses. Winners were awarded cash prizes, medals, certificates, and T-shirts: team event champions received ₹11,000, runners-up ₹5,000, while individual event winners received ₹3,100, with second place receiving ₹1,000.
Prominent Dignitaries Attend the Ceremony
The closing ceremony saw the presence of MLAs Rajesh Moonat, Sunil Soni, Purandar Mishra, Motilal Sahu, Kiran Singh Dev, along with District Panchayat Chairperson Naveen Agrawal, Zilla Panchayat CEO Kumar Biswranjan, and other public representatives, sports officials, students, and citizens.
