- Chief Minister attends partnership announcement and agreement signing ceremony of Sendh Lake City and Ileseum Clubs
- Padma Bhushan awardee Shri Pullela Gopichand to establish badminton academy in Nava Raipur, providing world-class training to Chhattisgarh’s talented players
- Government prioritises opportunities and modern facilities for sportspersons; ₹100 crore allocated in budget for sports development
- Bastar Olympics bringing talent from remote areas to the forefront; nearly 3.91 lakh players participated in second year
- Shri Gopichand appreciates state government’s efforts to promote sporting excellence, modern facilities and investment
Raipur, October 10, 2026/ Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said that Chhattisgarh has no shortage of sporting talent. What is needed is to identify and nurture this talent and provide players with world-class training and modern facilities. The state government is moving forward with a planned approach in this direction. Its goal is to enable players from Chhattisgarh to perform exceptionally well in national and international competitions and bring pride to the state and the country.
Chief Minister Shri Sai was addressing the partnership announcement and agreement signing ceremony of Sendh Lake City and Ileseum Clubs, held at Jora in Raipur today.
Welcoming the initiative to establish a proposed world-class sports club in Nava Raipur, Chief Minister Shri Sai said that it would further strengthen the sporting culture in Chhattisgarh and provide young people with better training and sports facilities.
The Chief Minister congratulated the founders and the entire team of the club and extended his best wishes. Welcoming renowned badminton player and coach Padma Bhushan awardee Shri Pullela Gopichand to Chhattisgarh, he said that Shri Gopichand has made a significant contribution to giving Indian badminton a new identity on the global stage.
Under his guidance, several players have brought honour to the country at the international level. The establishment of his badminton academy in Nava Raipur will be a major achievement for talented players from Chhattisgarh.
He added that sports are not merely a means of winning medals. They also develop discipline, confidence, team spirit and leadership qualities. Investment in sports is an investment in the younger generation and the bright future of the state. With this approach, the state government is giving special attention to expanding sports infrastructure, developing training facilities and encouraging talented players.
Bastar Olympics bringing young talent from villages to sports fields
Referring to the Bastar Olympics, Chief Minister Shri Sai said that the event has become an important platform for identifying hidden sporting talent in remote and tribal areas and providing opportunities for young players to progress. Approximately 1.65 lakh players participated in the first year of the Bastar Olympics. In the second year, participation increased to nearly 3.91 lakh players.
The Chief Minister said that the growing participation reflects the tremendous enthusiasm for sports among Bastar’s youth and the positive changes taking place in the region. Youth in Bastar are now moving away from guns and violence and coming forward to build their futures through sports, education, skills and employment. The government is working to ensure that talented players from remote villages receive the same opportunities and platforms available to players in major cities.
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that the National Tribal Games have been successfully organised in Chhattisgarh under the Khelo India initiative. Players from the state are also continuously demonstrating their talent at national and international levels.
Referring to the achievements of Commonwealth Games weightlifting silver medalist Gyaneshwari Yadav and Asian Games kabaddi gold medalist Sanju Devi, he said that the daughters of Chhattisgarh are bringing pride to the state through their hard work and talent.
₹100 crore allocated for expansion of sports infrastructure
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that the state government has prioritised the overall development of sports and allocated ₹100 crore in this year’s budget. Modern sports infrastructure is being developed across Chhattisgarh through coordination with various Central Government schemes, including Khelo India. Continuous efforts are being made to strengthen the state’s sporting culture by providing players with training, essential facilities and better opportunities.
He added that the government wants to ensure that no talented player from Chhattisgarh, whether from a city or a remote forest region, is left behind because of a lack of resources. Connecting talent with opportunities and preparing players for national and international competitions are among the government’s priorities.
New development opportunities opening up in Bastar with progress against Naxalism
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that the historic success achieved towards making Chhattisgarh free from Naxalism is among the most significant achievements of the government’s nearly two years and nine months in office. For more than four decades, Naxalism affected development in several parts of the state, including Bastar.
He said that the campaign against Naxalism gained decisive direction under the guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the firm determination of Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah.
Paying tribute to the courage, dedication and sacrifices of security personnel, the Chief Minister said that people living in Naxal-affected areas have also played an important role in bringing about this change. With the trust and cooperation of local communities, new opportunities are emerging in roads, education, healthcare, communication, sports and employment in these areas.
The Chief Minister said that the state government is working with full commitment to fulfil the promises made to the people under ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ and ensure that good governance and development reach the last person.
Chhattisgarh targets ₹75 lakh crore economy by 2047
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that Chhattisgarh is progressing rapidly towards becoming a developed state in line with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India. The state has set a target of expanding its economy to ₹75 lakh crore by 2047.
To achieve this, special attention is being given to the development of new technologies, modern industries, the service sector and human resources, along with the state’s natural wealth and traditional strengths. Chhattisgarh is rich in mineral resources, forest produce, water resources and energy. The hardworking people of the state are its greatest strength. By making better use of these opportunities and resources, the government is developing new avenues for employment, entrepreneurship and investment.
He added that the state’s new Industrial Policy is receiving an encouraging response from investors in India and abroad. During his recent visit to Singapore, positive discussions were held on investment in various sectors, including data centres and agricultural processing. At a roundtable meeting with the Chief Executive Officers of approximately 15 major companies, investors expressed interest in establishing industries and businesses in Chhattisgarh.
He said that increased investment would also create new employment and self-employment opportunities for the state’s youth.
Good governance and technology transforming administrative work culture
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that the state government is continuously introducing reforms to ensure transparent, accountable and citizen-centric administration. The establishment of the Good Governance and Convergence Department is an important step in this direction.
Along with implementing the e-Office system in the Mantralaya, the government is rapidly expanding the digitalisation of public services. The government’s objective is to use technology to make services simpler, more accessible and transparent, ensuring that citizens receive their benefits on time.
He said that healthy citizens, empowered youth, modern infrastructure and good governance are important foundations of a developed Chhattisgarh.
The Chief Minister called upon all citizens to actively participate in building a healthy, prosperous and developed Chhattisgarh.
Finance, Housing and Environment Minister Shri Om Prakash Choudhary said that Chhattisgarh’s identity is no longer limited to minerals and heavy industries.
The service sector, education, healthcare, technology and modern urban infrastructure are also expanding rapidly in the state. Nava Raipur is emerging as a major centre of new opportunities in this changing Chhattisgarh.
He said that prestigious institutions are being continuously expanded to provide quality education and skill development in the state.
Institutions such as the National Institute of Fashion Technology and the National Forensic Sciences University are being established, while national institutions such as IIT, IIM, AIIMS and CIPET are already providing quality education and training to young people in Chhattisgarh.
Shri Choudhary said that the establishment of a badminton academy by Shri Pullela Gopichand in Chhattisgarh, after Amaravati and Hyderabad, is an important achievement for the state’s sporting community. It will enable talented players from Chhattisgarh to receive world-class training and guidance within their own state.
He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, work is also progressing towards establishing a data centre and a semiconductor unit in Nava Raipur. The state government is moving forward with long-term planning to build a developed Chhattisgarh, using the ‘Anjor’ Vision Document as its foundation.
Healthy and empowered youth essential for building a developed India: Shri Pullela Gopichand
Padma Bhushan awardee Shri Pullela Gopichand expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai and the state government for the warm welcome he received in Chhattisgarh.
He said seeing the well-planned and beautiful development of Nava Raipur had given him a new perspective on Chhattisgarh.
He described the Ileseum Clubs initiative as an important step towards promoting sports, health and an active lifestyle.
Shri Gopichand said that the country’s outlook towards sports has changed significantly over the past 10 to 12 years.
Recalling his meeting with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi after the 2014 Commonwealth Games, he said that pride and self-confidence play an important role in a nation’s progress.
When an Indian athlete triumphs on the international stage and the national flag flies high, it elevates the confidence of the entire nation. Equal attention should be given to children’s physical development alongside their education and literacy. Children should have sufficient opportunities to run, jump, climb and participate in various sporting activities. Investment in sports is not limited to developing sportspersons. It also contributes to building a healthy, disciplined and confident society.
Shri Gopichand appreciated the Chhattisgarh Government’s efforts to promote sporting excellence, facilities and investment. He said that achieving the dream of a developed India by 2047 requires a younger generation that is not only educated but also healthy, active, disciplined and physically capable. Therefore, sports and health must be given an important place among development priorities.
Shri Prahlad Rai Agrawal, Shri Deepchand Rajliwal, Shri Pavitra Kumar, Dr. Himanshu Dwivedi, other guests and a large number of citizens were present on the occasion.
