“Your Chief Minister is Among You, Your Brother…Move Ahead, Government Stands With You” – CM Vishnudev Sai Inaugurates Bastar Olympics

Raipur, Dec 2025: Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai formally inaugurated the divisional-level Bastar Olympics 2025 at Indira Priyadarshini Stadium, Jagdalpur, addressing an enthusiastic gathering of athletes and spectators. “Your Chief Minister is among your community, like your brother…Move ahead, the government stands with you at every step,” he said during his address.

Athletes from all seven districts of Bastar and Nuabat presented a captivating march past, mesmerizing the audience. CM Sai emphasized that Bastar is steadily progressing toward peace, harmony, and prosperity, contributing significantly to state and national development.

He praised the participation of Bastar’s youth, highlighting that athletes from Nuabat brought a special dimension to the event. The strong participation of daughters and sisters underscores the new direction of women empowerment in Bastar. CM Sai reaffirmed the government’s commitment to integrating Bastar’s youth into the mainstream of development. He said the winners of Bastar Olympics would serve as role models for future athletes. The government plans to provide better training and opportunities for international competitions, with gold, silver, and bronze medalists in international Olympics competitions receiving ₹3 crore, ₹2 crore, and ₹1 crore, respectively, as honorarium.

Deputy Chief Minister Shri Arun Saw said the Bastar Olympics not only advances youth through sports but also integrates them into the mainstream of development. He assured that sports infrastructure would be strengthened to provide athletes with adequate platforms. Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma encouraged youth participation, stating the initiative connects them to development and will continue to expand.

Forest Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap and Padma Shri boxer MC Mary Kom, a medalist in international competitions including bronze, attended to motivate athletes and extend best wishes. Director of Sports and Youth Welfare, Tanuja Salam, stated that approximately 3,500 athletes from Bijapur, Dantewada, Kanker, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Bastar, and Nuabat were participating. Compared to 1,65,000 participants last year, over 3,92,000 have registered this year, including more than 2,27,000 women, reflecting a wave of change in Bastar.

The program began with torch lighting and fireworks, followed by vibrant cultural performances by students from Mata Rukmani Girls’ Ashram and other schools. Legislators Shri Vinayak Goyal (Chitrakot) and Shri Chaitram Atami (Dantewada), national athletes Kiran Pisda and Khushboo Nag, senior officials, nodal officers, trainers, and sports enthusiasts attended.

The torch was carried by talented athletes from remote Bastar areas—kabaddi player Vijay Dodi from Sukma and kho-kho player Saloni Kavachi from Narayanpur. They circled the stadium with energy and pride, symbolizing confidence and hope even in Maoist-affected and remote regions. Thousands of athletes and spectators across the division enthusiastically welcomed this historic moment.

The grand inauguration of the Bastar Olympics highlighted the immense sporting talent emerging from the region and reinforced the government and administration’s efforts to provide national and international recognition to these athletes.