Raipur: The Chhattisgarh government has announced a major push to strengthen the state’s sports ecosystem, with Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai unveiling plans for a new sports policy and confirming a ₹100 crore allocation under the Excellence in Sports Mission in the 2026-27 Budget. The announcement was made during the closing session of the state’s first-ever Sports Conclave, where the Chief Minister also distributed incentive awards to medal winners of the Khelo India Tribal Games 2026.
The Sports Conclave brought together sports administrators, coaches, athletes and experts from across India to discuss talent identification, scientific training, sports infrastructure and high-performance development, with recommendations expected to shape Chhattisgarh’s future sports policy.
Chhattisgarh to Introduce New Sports Policy
Addressing the conclave, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said the state government is committed to creating better opportunities for athletes by developing world-class sports infrastructure and providing quality training facilities.
He said the recommendations received from sports experts, administrators and coaches during the conclave would play a key role in framing the state’s new sports policy.
Sports Director Tanuja Salam stated that all practical suggestions received during the conclave would be incorporated into the new policy and departmental action plan.
Deputy Chief Minister and Sports Minister Arun Sao assured participants that the recommendations would not remain limited to documents but would be implemented through a concrete action plan.
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₹100 Crore Allocated Under Excellence in Sports Mission
The Chief Minister announced that the government has earmarked ₹100 crore under the Excellence in Sports Mission during the current financial year.
The allocation will be used for:
- Developing modern sports infrastructure across the state.
- Providing scientific and high-performance training to athletes.
- Creating international-standard sports facilities.
- Strengthening talent identification programmes.
- Supporting athletes from rural and tribal regions.
The government aims to help talented sportspersons compete successfully at national and international levels.
Sports Conclave to Shape Future Sports Development
The first Chhattisgarh Sports Conclave focused on building a long-term roadmap for sports development in the state.
Experts discussed several key areas, including:
- Talent scouting and identification.
- Scientific coaching methods.
- High-performance sports models.
- Sports infrastructure development.
- Transparent athlete development systems.
The state government believes these recommendations will provide a new direction to sports administration and athlete development.
Government Approves List of 156 Outstanding Athletes
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai announced that the state government has approved a list of 156 outstanding sportspersons.
These athletes will receive benefits in future government recruitment as per applicable rules, recognising their sporting achievements and encouraging greater participation in competitive sports.
Bastar and Surguja Olympics Receive Strong Participation
Highlighting efforts to promote grassroots sports, the Chief Minister referred to major sporting events organised across the state.
Participation figures include:
- Bastar Olympics: Nearly 400,000 participants
- Surguja Olympics: Around 350,000 participants
The government also organised the Khelo India Tribal Games, providing tribal athletes with a national platform to showcase their talent.
Khelo India Tribal Games Medal Winners Honoured
During the event, the Chief Minister distributed incentive cheques to medal winners and teams that represented Chhattisgarh at the Khelo India Tribal Games 2026.
The state won a total of 19 medals, including:
- 3 Gold medals
- 10 Silver medals
- 6 Bronze medals
The government presented financial incentives as follows:
- Gold medal winners: ₹2 lakh each
- Silver medal winners: ₹1.5 lakh each
- Bronze medal winners: ₹1 lakh each
Teams Receive Special Financial Incentives
Apart from individual medal winners, successful teams also received financial support.
The government awarded:
- Women’s Football Team: ₹22 lakh
- Men’s Football Team: ₹16.5 lakh
- Men’s Hockey Team: ₹9 lakh
The incentives are aimed at encouraging team sports alongside individual excellence.
Individual Medal Winners Recognised
Several athletes were honoured for their performances across different disciplines.
Among the notable medal winners were:
- Nikita – Gold (Weightlifting)
- Rishika – Silver (Weightlifting)
- Anushka Bhagat – Silver (Swimming)
- Lakshman Sodhi – Silver (Athletics)
- Abhishek – Silver (Athletics)
- Damru Kumar – Silver (Athletics)
- Gajendra Thakur – Silver (Athletics)
- Tilak Barse – Silver (Athletics)
- Manish Kumar – Bronze (Athletics)
- Nikhil Khalko – Bronze (Swimming)
- Lucky Babu – Bronze (Weightlifting)
Government Focuses on Building a Strong Sports Ecosystem
The Chhattisgarh government said its long-term objective is to discover sporting talent from remote and tribal regions, provide scientific training, improve sports infrastructure and create pathways for athletes to compete at national and international levels.
With the proposed new sports policy, ₹100 crore investment, employment benefits for outstanding athletes and continued support through initiatives like the Khelo India Tribal Games, the state aims to emerge as a strong sporting destination in India.
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