‘Those Who Play Will Flourish’: Arun Sao Says Chhattisgarh Committed to Nurturing Sporting Talent

Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister and Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Arun Sao (centre) at the closing ceremony of the 26th State-Level School Sports Competition in Bilaspur on September 6, 2026. Bilaspur MLA Amar Agrawal is seen at left and Bilha MLA Dharamlal Kaushik at right-Photo Credit:primelookindia.com via CG/DPR

Bilaspur Division emerges overall champion with 3,800 points as 845 players compete in the 26th State-Level School Sports Competition

Raipur, September 6, 2026: Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister and Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Arun Sao has said the State has no shortage of sporting talent and the government’s priority is to identify young players, nurture their abilities and provide them with opportunities and infrastructure to compete at higher levels.

Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao and other dignitaries release balloons during the closing ceremony of the 26th State-Level School Sports Competition in Bilaspur on September 6, 2026-Photo Credit:primelookindia.com via CG/DPR

Addressing the closing ceremony of the 26th State-Level School Sports Competition in Bilaspur on Sunday, Sao said sustained effort on the playing field was essential for young athletes aspiring to achieve excellence.

“There is no shortage of sporting talent in Chhattisgarh. What is needed is to identify this talent, nurture it and provide players with better opportunities to move forward,” Sao said.

Encouraging the young participants, he summed up his message with the phrase:

“Those who struggle and sweat on the playing field are the ones who reach new heights of success. Those who play will flourish.”

Key Highlights

• 845 players from all five divisions of Chhattisgarh participated, along with more than 150 officials.
• Competitions were held in baseball, swimming and water polo over four days.
• Bilaspur Division emerged overall champion with 3,800 points.
• The State recently provided ₹1.74 crore as incentives to sportspersons.
• Chhattisgarh Hockey League is scheduled for the last week of October.
• ₹100 crore has been provided in this year’s Budget under the Mukhyamantri Khel Utkarsh Yojana.
• The government plans to strengthen sports science, sporting infrastructure and athlete development.
• The State has revived the previously discontinued sports awards and has organised the Bastar and Surguja Olympics.

Government Putting Sports Talent at the Centre

Sao said the Vishnu Deo Sai government was working continuously for the overall development of sports and sportspersons in Chhattisgarh.

Young athletes march past during the closing ceremony of the 26th State-Level School Sports Competition in Bilaspur. Competitions in baseball, swimming and water polo were held during the four-day sporting event-Photo Credit:primelookindia.com via CG/DPR

He referred to the national emphasis on sport and said initiatives such as Khelo India had created opportunities for talented young athletes to progress beyond the local level.

“The Chhattisgarh Government is continuously working for the welfare of sports and sportspersons. The Bastar and Surguja Olympics have been organised, and Chhattisgarh has also received the opportunity to host the Khelo India National Tribal Games,” Sao said.

The Deputy Chief Minister said the government had also revived the State’s sports awards and was taking measures to recognise and encourage outstanding players.

₹100 Crore for Sports Development

Highlighting the State’s investment in the sector, Sao said sportspersons were provided ₹1.74 crore in incentives on August 29.

Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao presents the championship trophy to players during the closing ceremony in Bilaspur. The four-day competition brought together 845 players from all five divisions of Chhattisgarh-Photo Credit:primelookindia.com via CG/DPR

The next major sporting event on the State calendar will be the Chhattisgarh Hockey League, scheduled for the last week of October.

The government has also made a budgetary provision of ₹100 crore under the Mukhyamantri Khel Utkarsh Yojana this year.

“Through the Mukhyamantri Khel Utkarsh Yojana, we will work not only for the development of sports but also to strengthen sports science and sporting infrastructure,” Sao said.

The initiative indicates an effort to move beyond holding competitions towards creating a broader ecosystem in which promising athletes can receive better facilities and scientific support.

Bilaspur Takes Overall Championship

The four-day State-level competition brought together 845 players and more than 150 officials from Chhattisgarh’s five divisions.

Competitions in baseball, swimming and water polo were organised at Sanjay Taran Pushkar and the Chhattisgarh School sports ground in Bilaspur.

Bilaspur Division delivered the strongest overall performance across the events and secured the championship with 3,800 points.

At the closing ceremony, Sao and other dignitaries presented trophies and awards to the winning players and teams.

Bilaspur MLA Amar Agrawal stressed that sport was important alongside education for physical and mental development, while Bilha MLA Dharamlal Kaushik encouraged athletes to use sporting competition to build their future and bring recognition to their families, Chhattisgarh and the country.

Masturi MLA Dilip Lahariya, Chhattisgarh Textbook Corporation Chairman Raja Pandey, Additional Collector Shiv Kumar Banerjee, Joint Director of Education, Bilaspur Division, Ashwani Kumar Bhardwaj, District Education Officer Varsha Sharma, Assistant Director Sports G.D. Garg, BEO Bilha Bhupendra Kaushik and other officials, public representatives and sports enthusiasts attended the ceremony.