State Sports Training Center Bilaspur Received Recognition For Swimming, Wrestling And Athletic Games

The dreams won't stay just dreams any more. Giving an affirmation to hope and faith, the players of Chhattisgarh can now see their dreams come into reality.

Chief Minister Mr Bhupesh Baghel has added a new chapter in the development of sports in the state by taking the concept of Gadbo Nava Chhattisgarh into the playgrounds. He has enlivened the concept of holistic development, with the all-round development of children, especially the ones who share a special bond with sports.

For the very first time after the formation of an independent state, Residential Hockey Academy to be started soon in Raipur. Additionally, 'Excellence Center' is going to start in Bahtarai Bilaspur. Under the Khelo India Scheme, a proposal of Residential Hockey Academy at Raipur and 'Excellence Center' for Athletic, Wrestling and Swimming at Bilaspur was sent to the Sports Authority of India by the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, for which the approval has been received.

Efforts are now being made to embark on the realization of 'Gadbo Nava Chhattisgarh' in the field of sports to enhance the sports talent of the youth of the state and to provide the appropriate training. Earlier, a proposal was sent to the Sports Authority of India for archery by the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, for which the approval has been received. At present, the archery training is being provided to the players in Raipur. Under the 'One State One Game', the development of archery in Raipur is also under process.

Chief Minister Mr Bhupesh Baghel and Sports Minister Mr. Umesh Patel gave players, sports coaches and officials and employees of the State Sports and Youth Welfare Department, their hearty Congratulations and best wishes, after receiving recognition for the Residential Hockey Academy in Raipur and 'Excellence Center' for Athletic, Wrestling and Swimming in Bilaspur.

The Chhattisgarh Sports Development Authority has been constituted by the Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel for the maintenance of available sports infrastructure and operation of residential sports academies in the state of Chhattisgarh. Games are being developed across the state through the authority. The selection program for the Residential Hockey Academy to be started in Raipur is being prepared by the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare. All the facilities like hostel, school, kit, food and the residential academy will be made available to the trainee players selected for residential academy.

Athletic, swimming and wrestling are the three major sports that have been selected for the Excellence Center to be started in Bahtarai Bilaspur. Sports and Youth Welfare Department is taking action to create new posts of trainers across the state. The Excellence Center will aid in further polishing the sports talent in the state. With the recognition of the Government of India, the necessary resources will also be made available by the Central Government for these two major centres of Chhattisgarh for the development of sports. The MoU will soon be signed between the Sports Authority of India and the Sports and Youth Welfare Department of the state government for Chhattisgarh Hockey Academy Raipur.

Mr. Bhupesh Baghel while inaugurating the AstroTurf Hockey Stadium at Bahtarai in Bilaspur on June 17, 2019, named it after former Minister Late B.R. Yadav. The 9th Hockey India National Sub Junior Hockey Competition was launched by the Chief Minister in this stadium, in which teams from 22 states participated. A well-equipped sports complex is ready in Bilaspur. Chhattisgarh Hockey Academy Raipur and State Sports Training Center Bilaspur being recognized as 'Khelo India State Center of Excellence' will provide a good opportunity for sports talent of the state to develop their sporting skills. Players will get better sports infrastructure with better facilities and training from good coaches.

Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel is determined to provide better facilities to the sports talents of Chhattisgarh. On the occasion of the launch of Yuva Mahotsav this year, the Chief Minister had encouraged the youth to move ahead in the field of sports by giving a new slogan of 'Khelbo-Jeetbo-Gadbo Nava Chhattisgarh'.

It is noteworthy that after the formation of the state, no Sports Academy was established in Chhattisgarh. On the special initiative of Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel, Chhattisgarh Hockey Academy was established in Raipur, in which residential facilities are being provided for training to boys and girls hockey players. Constant efforts were made by the state government to get recognition of  thw academy from the Government of India. Two well-equipped hockey stadiums of international level have already been established in Raipur. The Sports Authority of India and the team of sports experts of Khelo India visited the Raipur Hockey Academy and availed information regarding the sports infrastructure and facilities available there.