RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh is set to significantly strengthen its sports ecosystem with the establishment of National Archery Academies, modern sports complexes, and the launch of a state hockey league, Sports Minister Arun Sao announced on Tuesday while outlining the government’s roadmap for sports development.
Speaking to the media in the presence of Sports Secretary Yashwant Kumar after weightlifter Gyaneshwari Yadav’s impressive performance at the Commonwealth Games, Sao said a National Archery Academy will be established at Sector-3, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar at a cost of ₹67 crore. The Welfare Department has allotted 13.47 acres of land free of cost, and a tripartite agreement has been signed between NTPC, NRANVP, and the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare (DSYW) for the project. Another ₹18-crore Archery Academy is currently under construction in Jashpur district.
The minister said the state is also investing heavily in sports infrastructure. A Multi-Sports Complex is being developed in Sector-28, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar in two phases. Phase 1, with an allocation of ₹114.05 crore, is currently under construction, while Phase 2 has received administrative approval of ₹94.69 crore. In addition, Integrated Sports Complexes have been approved for Kunkuri (Jashpur) at ₹64 crore and Raigarh at ₹92 crore.
Highlighting the growing participation in regional sporting events, Sao said registrations for the Bastar Olympics increased from 1.65 lakh in 2024 to 3.91 lakh in 2025 across 11 disciplines. The event identified 13 Youth Icons in 2024 and 18 Youth Icons in 2025. Meanwhile, the inaugural Sarguja Olympics 2026 attracted 3.49 lakh registrations across 12 disciplines, with 14 Youth Icons being selected.
Chhattisgarh also successfully hosted the first-ever Khelo India Tribal Games from March 25 to April 3, 2026, across Raipur, Bastar, and Sarguja. Around 3,000 athletes participated in seven competitive and four demonstration sports. The host state won 19 medals, including 3 gold, 10 silver, and 6 bronze. The government has announced cash incentives of ₹2 lakh for gold, ₹1.5 lakh for silver, and ₹1 lakh for bronze medal winners.
To further strengthen sports development, the state has earmarked ₹100 crore under the Mukhyamantri Khel Utkarsh Mission in the 2026–27 Budget. The mission will focus on Athlete Management Systems, Sports Science Centres, Feeder Centres, Athlete Welfare, and high-performance training.
Sao also said the government has cleared the backlog of State Sports Decoration Awards for 2019–2023, benefiting 1,143 athletes through honours, cash rewards, and sports scholarships, reaffirming the state’s commitment to nurturing sporting talent and building a world-class sports ecosystem.
