Chhattisgarh Olympic Association general secretary Vikram Singh Sisodia meets union sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya to push for sports development
RAIPUR: In a significant development aimed at bolstering the sports infrastructure and opportunities in Chhattisgarh, the Chhattisgarh Olympic Association (CGOA) office bearer met with Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya in New Delhi on Monday to discuss a strategic roadmap for the holistic development of sports in the state.
The meeting focused on a range of issues, including the need for central assistance in establishing state-of-the-art training facilities, enhancing grassroots-level sports programmes, and extending institutional support to athletes representing Chhattisgarh at the national and international levels.
The COA General Secretary, Vikram Singh Sisodia, apprised the Union Minister of the challenges faced by sportspersons in the region, particularly in rural and tribal-dominated districts where raw talent often lacks access to professional coaching, equipment, and exposure.
"The state has immense potential in disciplines like athletics, archery, wrestling, and hockey, especially among youth from tribal regions. With structured support and better infrastructure, many of these athletes can be groomed for national and even Olympic participation," the General Secretary said after the meeting.
Minister Mandaviya reportedly assured full cooperation from the central government and expressed keen interest in promoting sports across backward regions through targeted interventions.
The minister highlighted the Union government's commitment to building a strong sporting ecosystem and emphasized that states like Chhattisgarh must be actively included in the national sports development narrative.
During the interaction, the CGOA also requested support for organizing national-level championships in Chhattisgarh, which would not only inspire local talent but also boost sporting culture in the state.
The association proposed Raipur and Bilaspur as potential hubs for hosting such events, citing available infrastructure and government willingness to collaborate.
The meeting comes at a time when Chhattisgarh is seeking to revamp its sports policy and align it with national goals, especially ahead of major national and international sporting events. The state government has revived its proposal to host the national games.
The General Secretary of CGOA attended the Annual General Meeting of the Badminton Association of India (BAI) and held discussions with BAI President and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and General Secretary Sanjay Mishra.
The talks focused on advancing badminton in Chhattisgarh through enhanced infrastructure, talent development, and national-level collaboration. The leaders expressed commitment to strengthening the sport at the grassroots and state levels, paving the way for greater participation and performance from Chhattisgarh shuttlers.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Bengaluru stampede: ‘Craving publicity when people died,' H D Kumaraswamy demands Karnataka govt to sack Deputy CM D K Shivakumar
Holding Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar responsible for the stampede at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru that killed 11 people, Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy Thursday demanded that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah sack Shivakumar from the Cabinet. Kumaraswamy alleged that the 'insensitive' attitude of Shivakumar was on display after Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) arrived at Bengaluru Airport following their win in the Indian Premier League, during the felicitation at Vidhana Soudha and at the stadium. 'He was craving publicity even when people were dying,' he told reporters in Delhi. He said that Shivakumar acted as a 'rowdy' during the incident. 'What was the necessity to hold the (felicitation) event at the grand stairs of Vidhana Soudha? The entire state government made it their family event. It was a show of dadagiri by the deputy CM. Even after knowing that people had died, he participated in the event held inside the stadium,' Kumaraswamy alleged. BJP state president B Y Vijayendra said that even as TV channels were reporting the deaths, the deputy chief minister was seen kissing the cup at Chinnaswamy Stadium. 'What was the necessity of organising celebrations in front of Vidhana Soudha when an event was already planned at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The government should come clean on whether the decision to celebrate at Vidhana Soudha was taken by the deputy CM or by the CM, and when that decision was made,' he said. Meanwhile, Shivakumar accused the Opposition parties of playing politics over dead bodies. Turning emotional, Shivakumar said that he had seen the young kids who died. 'No family can digest such an incident,' he said. On his participation in the program at the stadium after the tragedy, Shivakumar claimed that he did not have plans to attend it despite the invitation offered to him by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). 'I took the KSCA president and other members of the management in my car, and we closed the program in 10 minutes. I was not aware of the deaths until I reached the stadium… I went there and told them not to hold any function,' he said. Commenting on the allegations against the government, he said that the Opposition parties were only doing mischief. 'The BJP and the Janata Dal (Secular) always play politics over dead bodies. That is their political agenda. We are deeply hurt. It is as if our own family members have died,' he said.
Economic Times
3 hours ago
- Economic Times
Not techies! Steve Jobs' and Bill Gates' daughters both chose life partners from same profession
Eve Jobs, daughter of Steve Jobs, is set to marry British Olympic equestrian Harry Charles in a lavish Cotswolds wedding, anticipated as the society event of the year. Meanwhile, Jennifer Gates, daughter of Bill Gates, also an equestrian, married Olympic showjumper Nayel Nassar in 2021 and has since welcomed two daughters, Leila and Mia. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads About Eve Jobs and Harry Charles Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads It's not just another high-profile wedding, it's shaping up to be the society event of the year. Eve Jobs , the youngest daughter of late Apple visionary Steve Jobs , is ready to tie the knot with British Olympic equestrian Harry Charles in a fairytale wedding set amidst the idyllic backdrop of the Cotswolds, England. The buzz around this ultra-glamorous celebration is already picking up speed, and if early reports are anything to go by, this union will be one for the ages. It's interesting to note that Bill Gates' daughter, JenniferWhile Eve carries the legacy of Apple in her DNA, she's carved her own path in fashion and equestrian sports. From walking in Glossier campaigns to competing among the world's top show jumpers under 25, the Stanford University graduate is no stranger to the spotlight. According to Harper's Bazaar, her academic pursuits at Stanford University. It further reported that Eve Jobs became a professional showjumper and, in 2019, earned the fifth spot on a global ranking of top riders under the age of 25. She once had her sights set on the Olympics and was even in contention for the 2020 Tokyo Games, but ultimately stepped back after the event was postponed due to the COVID-19 soon-to-be husband Harry Charles, meanwhile, brings Olympic gold and equestrian glory to the equation. Born into riding royalty, his father Peter Charles helped win Britain's first team jumping gold in 60 years, Harry followed in his footsteps. He not only competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but also secured team gold at Paris 2024, riding with a strapped arm just weeks after a Gates, the eldest daughter of billionaire Bill Gates and his ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, is an accomplished equestrian and owner of Evergate Stables. She met Olympic showjumper Nayel Nassar in 2017 through their shared love for horses. Coincidentally, both are Stanford in Chicago and raised in Kuwait, Nayel comes from a well-established family with a background in architecture and design. Their bond deepened over the years, leading to an engagement in 2020 and a private wedding at their Westchester County farm in October 2021, shortly after her parents' divorce. According to People, the couple welcomed their first daughter, Leila, in March 2023, followed by the birth of their second daughter, Mia, in October 2024.
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Suruchi aims for golden repeat in Munich
New Delhi: Not many professional shooters describe their process as succinctly as Suruchi Phogat. The latest 10m air pistol sensation to emerge from domestic ranges couldn't care less about techniques such as visualisation or meditation or even the flow state that shooters fret over. Neither does she bother about shooting against Olympic medallists or much-accomplished competitors. 'It's simple. I just pick up the gun and shoot. It's not a very complicated sport,' she said when asked to explain her process. One may be tempted to attribute her assessment to inexperience at the elite level, but the results belie any trace of fluke or complacency. Four medals from her first two senior World Cups in Buenos Aires and Lima this April, including three gold, underscore her growing prowess and the 19-year-old will be the one to watch out for when she takes aim at the Munich World Cup from June 8. 'Shooting always felt natural to me. Somehow, I have never had to try extra hard to nail good scores. I hit 580-585 in training which is usually enough to put me in the finals,' she said. 'In the finals though, I sometimes tend to shoot a little below par which is one area I am working on and would like to get better in this World Cup. The Indian shooting contingent had a two-week training camp at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi where the shooters honed their skills ahead of year's third senior rifle/pistol World Cup. The 23-member squad is headlined by Olympic medallists Swapnil Kusale and Manu Bhaker. Besides Bhaker, Suruchi will be accompanied by 19-year-old Asian Games gold medallist Palak Gulia in the 10m event. After the golden harvest in South America, Suruchi will be expected to give a good account of herself in Germany where the competition is going to be sterner with reigning Olympic champion, South Korea's Oh Yejin, in contention. 'The South American leg didn't offer a very tough test, but in Munich, almost all top shooters will participate. It will be an exciting challenge,' said Suruchi. 'And as far as expectations go, I feel 0.01% pressure on match days. My entire focus is on my shooting.' 'My biggest strength is that I don't think too much. Even on match days, my mornings are relaxed and easy. I just try to execute whatever I do in training. It doesn't matter who is shooting next to me. The target is same for everyone,' she added, emphasising that her mindset has barely changed since the time she swept the individual events (junior, youth, senior) at National Championships late last year and followed it up with success at this year's National Games. The twin success at World Cups has brought a lot of attention to Suruchi's unassuming family in Haryana's Sasroli village. Jhajjar district, known for producing quality wrestlers, has lapped up its latest shooting star and Suruchi is still a little wonderstruck with all the adulation. 'We are simple people who live in a humble house in the fields. When I returned from South America, there were a lot of high-profile people who turned up every day to meet me. I felt a little embarrassed because we don't have any luxuries to offer our guests. It's a very humbling experience,' she said.
