Raipur. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s efforts to promote sports in Chhattisgarh have got another major success. According to the instructions of the Chief Minister, on the proposal of the Sports and Youth Welfare Department of Chhattisgarh, the Sports Authority of India has approved the establishment of ten new Khelo India mini centers in Chhattisgarh under the Khelo India scheme. These ten centers will be opened for one game each in different districts. Khelo India Small Center has been approved by the Sports Authority of India for Hockey, Wrestling, Football, Kabaddi and Archery. Sports Authority of India will also provide financial assistance for setting up these centres. Now the total number of centers under the Khelo India scheme has gone up to 24 in Chhattisgarh.
‘Khelbo Jeetbo Garhbo Nava Chhattisgarh’
Expressing happiness over the approval of 10 new Khelo India centers in Chhattisgarh, the Chief Minister has 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 not only in the state but also at the national and international level. He said that this has proved to be another meaningful step in realizing the vision of ‘Khelbo Jeetbo Garhbo Nava Chhattisgarh’.
New Khelo India Small Center
Directorate of Sports and Youth Welfare Department of Chhattisgarh had sent a proposal to Sports Authority of India to start Khelo India Center for various sports, in which Hockey in Bastar, Wrestling in Dhamtari, Hockey in Janjgir Champa, Football in Korba, Football in Balrampur, Bemetara In Kabaddi, Archery in Dantewada, Archery in Mahasamund, Football in Mungeli and New Khelo India mini centers have been sanctioned in Surajpur.
Center opening process in progress
Before this, the process of opening Khelo India mini centers for hockey in Jashpur and Malkhamb in district Narayanpur, archery in Bijapur, archery in Shivtrai Bilaspur, volleyball in Gariaband, football in Surguja, and hockey in Rajnandgaon is in progress. So far, Rs 7 lakh each has been released to each district in the 7 districts of the first phase for small centres. In the other 7 sanctioned districts, the amount for weightlifting in Balod, football in Balodabazar, kabaddi in Durg, kho-kho in Kanker, weightlifting in Raipur, badminton in Raigarh and football in Sukma is under process by the Sports Authority of India.
Opportunity for local senior players
In this way, through 24 Khelo India Mini Centers in 24 districts of the state, players will get direct benefits. Local senior players of each sport would be attached to the centre, they would also be paid an honorarium to act as coaches. Equal representation of boys and girls players will also be ensured in all Khelo India centres. These centers will be registered in the Sports Authority of India portal.
