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Raipur. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel made a historic start of seven sports academies for the players of the state. Out of these, four sports academies in Bilaspur and 3 in Raipur got their start yesterday. Hockey, Archery, Athletics and Kabaddi Academy was inaugurated in Bilaspur and Archery, Girls Football and Boys-Girls Athletics Academy in Raipur. In a virtual program organized at his residence office, Chief Minister inaugurated new sports facilities in Bilaspur and Raipur costing about 42 crores 14 lakh rupees and performed Bhoomi Pujan.
Boarding and Kabaddi (Girls) Academy of Hockey, Archery, Athletics in Bilaspur and Day Boarding Academy of Archery, Football (Girls) and Athletics (Boys-Girls) in Raipur is 370 seats, in which 180 boarding seats and 190 days. The Chief Minister inaugurated the late B.R. Yadav State Sports Complex, which now has a 400-meter synthetic athletics track and field, constructed at the cost of Rs. 9.20 crore, 50 seater sports hostel for boys constructed for Rs 2.82 crore, 100 seater sports hostel for girls constructed for Rs 4.75 crore and 4.47 crore. On this occasion, he laid the foundation stone of Kabaddi Indoor Hall in Bilaspur. The Chief Minister also inaugurated Late Koduram Verma Smriti Archery Training Academy at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Hockey Stadium, Raipur, Football Academy for girls in Swami Vivekananda Stadium Complex Kota and Athletics Academy for boys and girls.
Chief Minister said that the 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 Shri B.R. 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, N.N. Ekka delivered the welcome address. Proposing a 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.
On this occasion, Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu, Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey, School Education Minister Dr. Premsai Singh Tekam, Food Minister Amarjeet Bhagat, Forest Minister Shri 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 Sahu, 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.
