SAI approves 7 more Khelo India Centers in Chhattisgarh, taking the total tally to 14

Raipur: The efforts made by Chhattisgarh government to promote sports in Chhattisgarh are proving to be a big success. On the proposal of the Chhattisgarh Sports and Youth Welfare Department, the Sports Authority of India has approved the establishment of seven more Khelo India centers in the state under the Khelo India programme.

Officials said that these seven centers will be opened for one game each in different districts. Khelo India Center has been approved for Weightlifting, Football, Kho-Kho, Kabaddi and Badminton. Sports Authority of India will also provide financial assistance for setting up these centres. Now the total number of centers under the Khelo India programme has increased to 14 in Chhattisgarh.

Expressing happiness over the approval of seven Khelo India centers in Chhattisgarh, the chief minister Bhupesh Baghel said that the players of Chhattisgarh will get a good opportunity to enhance their sporting talent. In the coming times, these players will bring laurels to the state and the country at the national and international level sports competition. He said that this has proved to be another meaningful step in realizing the concept of ‘Khelbo Jeetbo Garhbo Nava Chhattisgarh’.

Approval has been given for opening Weightlifting Center in Balod and Raipur, Football Center in Balodabazar and Sukma, Kabaddi Center in Patan of Durg, Kho-Kho Center in Kanker and Badminton Center in Raigarh.

Earlier approval was given to start Archery Centers in Shivtrai Bilaspur and Bijapur, Hockey Centers in Rajnandgaon and Jashpur, Volleyball Center in Gariyaband, Mallakhamb Center in Narayanpur and Football Center in Ambikapur of Surguja.

With the commencement of these centers, sports training will be improved and the players will get proper infrastructure to develop and enhance their sporting skills. Monitoring of these centers will also be done by the department to ensure their smooth functioning, said the officials.

Local senior players of each sport will be attached to the center and they will get an honorarium for rendering their service as coaches. Equal representation of boys and girls players will also be ensured in all Khelo India centers. These centers will be registered in the Sports Authority of India portal.