Sai Showcases Chhattisgarh’s Sporting Legacy, Honours Achievers at State Sports Awards

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai addresses the State Sports Awards Ceremony at Pt Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium in Raipur on Saturday, August 29, 2026-Photo Credit:primelookindia.com via CG/DPR

Chief Minister unveils ‘Hamare Khiladi’ coffee-table book and visits special exhibition tracing the achievements and struggles of the state’s sporting icons

Key Highlights

• State Sports Awards Ceremony held in Raipur on National Sports Day
• CM Vishnu Deo Sai honours sportspersons and celebrates Chhattisgarh’s sporting achievements
• ‘Hamare Khiladi’ documents the journeys of players who have represented the state nationally and internationally
• Special photo exhibition showcases sporting icons, their struggles and achievements
• Sai says documenting sporting history can inspire a new generation of players

Raipur: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai brought the state’s sporting history and its present-day achievers together on one platform as he attended the State Sports Awards Ceremony at Pt Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium in Raipur on Saturday, August 29, 2026.

Organised on National Sports Day, the ceremony celebrated sportspersons who have brought recognition to Chhattisgarh while also highlighting the journeys of those whose achievements helped shape the state’s sporting identity.

Sai visited a specially curated photo exhibition depicting the lives, struggles and achievements of sporting personalities associated with Chhattisgarh. He appreciated the initiative to preserve these stories and introduce a younger generation to the state’s sporting heritage.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai honours sportspersons, unveils the coffee-table book ‘Hamare Khiladi’ and visits the special exhibition showcasing Chhattisgarh’s sporting history during the State Sports Awards Ceremony in Raipur on Saturday, August 29, 2026.-Photo Credit:primelookindia.com via CG/DPR

The exhibition featured photographs and information on several prominent personalities, including Shaheed Rajiv Pandey, Shaheed Pankaj Vikram, Shaheed Kaushal Yadav and Shaheed Vinod Choubey. The sporting journey and contribution of Veer Hanuman Singh were also prominently showcased.

Rather than concentrating only on medals and records, the exhibition traced the struggles behind sporting success, presenting stories intended to encourage young people to pursue excellence in sport.

‘Hamare Khiladi’ Records Sporting Journeys

Sai also unveiled the coffee-table book ‘Hamare Khiladi’, which documents the lives, sporting journeys and major achievements of Chhattisgarh players who have earned recognition at the national and international levels.

Supported by photographs and biographical material, the publication seeks to create a lasting record of the state’s sporting talent while introducing readers to personalities who have contributed to Chhattisgarh’s growing presence in competitive sport.

The photo exhibition and ‘Hamare Khiladi’ have been prepared jointly by the Sports and Youth Welfare Department and the Public Relations Department.

The ceremony was attended by Union Minister of State Tokhan Sahu, Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao, Culture Minister Rajesh Agrawal, Technical Education Minister Khushwant Saheb, MPs Brijmohan Agrawal and Vijay Baghel, legislators Purandar Mishra, Motilal Sahu and Sunil Soni, besides representatives of sports bodies, coaches, sportspersons and sports enthusiasts.

The occasion served not merely as an awards ceremony but as an effort to connect Chhattisgarh’s sporting past with its emerging generation — documenting those who created a legacy while encouraging young athletes who may carry it forward.