Bhupesh Baghel making state to sports powerhouse

Bhupesh Baghel the Chief Minister of India’s state Chatissgarh, is driving the state towards a sports hub. Baghel who has taken the charges as the Chief Minister has already successfully backed and hosted Road Safety World Series at the state capital Raipur.

Road Safety World Series, a cricket tournament started by Mumbai RTO along with PMG with a focus on spreading awareness about Road Safety among citizens started with Mumbai as the host city. However, the tournament had come to a standstill due to the outbreak of the Covid19 Pandemic.

Being home to one of the largest and world-class cricket stadium, Raipur had successfully hosted the second leg of the tournament successfully in the month of February- March 2021. Despite the Pandemic, the state government has ensured successful completion of the tournament by ensuring a Bio-Bubble atmosphere for global Cricketing greats.

This is the first major tournament being scheduled in the state, although Raipur hosted a few IPL matches in the first this is was for the first time the state has witnessed matches for a long duration which was possible with the support of the Chief Minister who has ensured the government has provided every possible support by lending the stadium to secure facilities including Bio-Bubble.

This was just a feather in the longer vision the state is focusing on, In 2019, the state has embarked on an action plan with a motto ‘Khelbo-Jeetbo-Gadbo Nava Chhattisgarh’ which in English translates to Playing – Winning – Creating New Chhattisgarh.

During the initiative the Chief Minister said “Sports have a significant role in nation-building, shaping one’s personality and character. It elevates the qualities of discipline, determination, teamwork, and a passion for fitness. With such belief in mind, we have launched sports and cultural clubs even at gram panchayat level besides the annual youth festival to imbibe a spirit of healthy sportsmanship”

To implement the minister’s vision the state had set up Chhattisgarh Sports Development Authority to take swift decision making on policy and major sporting events to promote both modern and traditional forms of sports.

Apart from hosting Road Safety World Series the state has accomplished a few more achievements in the due course, Chhattisgarh Residential Hockey Academy in Raipur and State Sports Training center in Bilaspur have been recognized as Khelo India’s state center of Excellence.

The state has built a multipurpose indoor facility in Ambikapur and the synthetic athletic track in Mahasamund is also of international standards. Astro-Turf hockey stadiums are built at various places in the state which are being used in nurturing budding talents.

The state has also built facilities, a one of its kind Judo center in Durg. We would need to see many more states following the route of Mr. Baghel to see India evolve as a sport-playing nation. More facilities across sports would encourage young talents to take up the sport and would eventually make the Tri-Colour fly high at the global stage.