Dehradun: Chhattisgarh created history yet again by winning the overall championship at the 28th All India Forest Sports Meet, held in Dehradun from November 12 to 17, 2025. This marks the 13th consecutive time the state has claimed the overall trophy, reinforcing its dominance in forest sports competitions across the country.
Chhattisgarh Tops Medal Tally with 150 Medals
The team from Chhattisgarh scored a total of 578 points, securing first place in the overall standings. The contingent of 253 athletes won an impressive 150 medals, comprising 74 gold, 34 silver, and 42 bronze medals. Kerala secured the second position with 31 gold medals, while Karnataka came third with 25 golds. The host state, Uttarakhand, finished sixth.
Outstanding Individual Performances
Several athletes from Chhattisgarh delivered remarkable performances:
- Nikhil Zalko was named Best Male Athlete, winning five gold medals in swimming.
- Sangeeta Rajgopalan earned the title of Best Female Athlete in Badminton and Tennis, winning four golds and one silver.
- Thota Sankirtan was awarded Best Female Open Athlete, securing five gold medals and earning the ‘Golden Girl’ title.
- Sukhnandan Lal Dhurv, Best Male Veteran Athlete, won five gold medals.
- Charulata Gajpal, Best Female Veteran Athlete, achieved four gold medals.
These achievements reflect Chhattisgarh’s strong commitment to nurturing talent and promoting sports excellence.
Special Recognition at the Closing Ceremony
The championship trophy was jointly presented by Lieutenant General (Retd.) Gurmeet Singh, Governor of Uttarakhand, and Subodh Uniyal, Forest Minister of Uttarakhand. Shalini Raina, an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer representing Chhattisgarh, received the trophy on behalf of the state.
‘One Sport – One Forest’ Initiative Promotes Environmental Conservation
This year’s competition also included a unique environmental initiative under the concept “One Sport – One Forest.” For every medal won, a tree was planted in the athlete’s name, linking sports achievements with nature conservation and spreading a message of sustainability among participants.
CM Vishnu Deo Sai Congratulates Athletes
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap congratulated the athletes and teams for their outstanding performance. They encouraged the players to continue excelling in sports while upholding the values of discipline, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
Chhattisgarh’s Continued Dominance: Winning the overall championship for the 13th consecutive year demonstrates the state’s sustained investment in sports infrastructure, athlete development, and talent promotion, making it a model for forest sports competitions across India.
