Chhattisgarh lacks sports environment since its formation

“State players have to perform well in 38th National Games”

By Jaswant Claudius (Senior Sports Journalist)

Raipur : On 1st November 2000, Chhattisgarh state was formed by separating from Madhya Pradesh. Thus, with the coming into existence of a new state, the responsibility of the players, trainers, officials of various sports associations of Chhattisgarh increased. Olympic Association and State Sports Associations of various sports were formed in the state. National competitions of recognized sports associations started being organized in various cities of Chhattisgarh.

Construction of infrastructure for Olympic games, non-Olympic games and traditional games started in our state. After 24 years, in today’s circumstances, international level infrastructure has been built in this state for sports like hockey, tennis, badminton, swimming, volleyball, handball, basketball, athletics, squash, cricket, table tennis etc. 24 years ago, Chhattisgarh had coaches from National Institute of Sports (NIS) for only a few sports, but now NIS coaches are available for 20 to 25 sports.

Thus, we can say that the Union Sports Ministry, Sports Authority of India, State Government, Public Sector Undertakings and private industrialists, politicians, sports association officials, sports administrators, former players, sports lovers have cooperated in popularizing sports in Chhattisgarh and in selecting talented players and encouraging them, but when we study the documents in reality, it is revealed that whatever efforts have been made in the last 24 years to popularize sports in Chhattisgarh or to encourage the players are not enough. In fact, the results of the National Games are considered to be the basis of sports activity of any state. The situation will become more clear by looking at the results of the National Games from 2001 to 2023.
Participants from Chhattisgarh state won three medals including 2 silver and 1 bronze in 2001, three gold, one silver and five bronze medals in 2002, three gold, two silver and six bronze medals in 2007, four gold, one silver and seven bronze medals in 2011, two gold, four silver and four bronze medals in 2015, 10 medals including two gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze medals in 2022, 13 medals including two gold, 3 silver and 19 bronze medals in 2023. Thus, in the last seven national games, participants from Chhattisgarh have won a total of 89 medals including 16 gold, 17 silver and 56 bronze medals. We cannot call this achievement of the players of Chhattisgarh encouraging. But the sports and players of our state cannot be neglected just because they have not lived up to expectations.

A look at the sports activities of our state makes it clear that after the formation of the state, high administrative officers or politicians or influential people of the society took over various sports associations. Who had no special interest in sports. Then the sports administrators posted in the Sports Department were also neglected by high administrative officers and politicians. In such circumstances, the sports environment has not been created in our state till date. The most unfortunate thing is that during the tenure from 2018 to 2023, the sports environment of Chhattisgarh was disrupted, during this time the players were deprived of their rights and an attempt was made to pollute the sports environment by naming it Chhattisgarhi Olympics. Unless a leadership comes in our state that understands the importance of sports and the lives of players in society, the future of the players of the state cannot be bright.