Team News Riveting
Raipur, December 11
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai formally inaugurated the regional-level Bastar Olympic today at the Indira Priyadarshini Stadium in Jagdalpur on Thursday.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Bastar Olympic 2025 divisional-level competitions, he shared his message of reassurance and solidarity. He stated that, “Your Chief Minister comes from within your society, he is your brother. You must move ahead with confidence, and our government stands beside you at every step”. He encouraged athletes from across the Bastar division. Players from all seven districts and Nuwabat presented a spectacular march past that left the audience enthralled.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief Minister stated that the government is making “every possible effort to take development to every village of Bastar”, and as a result, Bastar is steadily moving towards “peace, harmony, and prosperity”, contributing significantly to the progress of both the state and the nation.
The Chief Minister stated that the enthusiastic participation of Bastar’s youth has made this major event a success and a historic milestone. He expressed satisfaction that athletes from Nuwabat participated in the Bastar Olympics with great energy, adding a “distinct and inclusive dimension” to the event. The participation of a large number of young women, he said, is a clear sign that “women’s empowerment in Bastar is moving in a new and promising direction”.
He added that the government is committed to ensuring that Bastar’s youth are connected to the mainstream of society and engaged meaningfully in development. This is why young people in Bastar are coming forward with “faith in democracy” and playing an active role in the journey of progress. The Chief Minister stated that the winners of the Bastar Olympic competitions will serve as role models for future athletes. The government will provide better opportunities and training to the youth of Bastar and prepare them for competitions at the international level. He announced that athletes from Chhattisgarh who win gold, silver, and bronze medals at international Olympic events will receive honours of Rs. 3 crore, Rs. 2 crore, and Rs. 1 crore respectively.
Addressing the gathering, Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao said the Bastar Olympics is not only a platform to promote sports among youth but also a medium to bring them into the “mainstream of development”. Sports infrastructure in Bastar will be further strengthened to provide a suitable platform for talented athletes. He added that sports teach discipline and resilience, and failures, too, inspire the determination to move forward.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma also encouraged the athletes, calling the Bastar Olympics a “positive initiative to connect youth from interior regions with the mainstream of development”. He said the government is providing expanded opportunities to youth from remote areas and will continue to support this initiative more strongly in the future.
Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap and Padma Shri awardee and Olympic bronze medallist Smt M.C. Mary Kom were present and extended their best wishes to the athletes.
In her welcome address, Smt. Tanuja Salam, Director of Sports and Youth Welfare, stated that approximately 3,500 athletes from Bijapur, Dantewada, Kanker, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Bastar, and Nuwabat are participating in the divisional-level Bastar Olympic competitions. She said this is a proud moment for Bastar, and the state government’s decision to promote this event reflects a strong “vision for a brighter future”. Talent is being identified through competitions at three levels. Compared to last year’s 1,65,000 participants, this year more than 3,92,000 individuals have registered, including over 2,27,000 young women — a powerful indicator of the “new wave of transformation in Bastar”.
The programme began with the ceremonial lighting of the torch and a fireworks display. Colourful cultural performances followed, with students of Mata Rukmani Kanya Ashram and other schools presenting captivating dance sequences.
The divisional-level Bastar Olympic 2025 began with an atmosphere filled with dignity and excitement. The formal inauguration was conducted by Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, ministers, and Padma Shri boxer Smt Mary Kom. Before thousands of spectators, the Chief Minister lit the ceremonial torch of the Bastar Olympics.
The honour of carrying the torch was then given to Vijay Dodi, a talented kabaddi player from the remote village of Puvarti in Sukma district, and Sushri Saloni Kawachi, a kho-kho player from the Orchha block of Narayanpur. With tremendous energy and pride, the young athletes ran across the ground, carrying the torch to the Main Torch-Lighting Point. It was an emotional and historic moment for Sukma and Narayanpur — districts once affected by Left-Wing Extremism — as their youth ran confidently before thousands of spectators. The crowd’s enthusiasm reached its peak during this moment.
Thousands of athletes and spectators from across the division welcomed this historic beginning with great excitement. The grand inaugural ceremony once again demonstrated that Bastar’s soil continues to produce “remarkable sporting talent” and that the state government and administration are taking concrete steps to bring these talents to national and international arenas.
Chitrakot MLA Vinayak Goyal, Dantewada MLA Chaitram Atami, national players Sushri Kiran Pisda and Sushri Khushboo Nag, senior officers, district nodal officers, sports officials, coaches, and a large gathering of sports enthusiasts and citizens were present.
