Chhattisgarh’s rich sporting history and achievements of its athletes receive a new platform on National Sports Day
Photo exhibition showcases the lives and contributions of sporting icons from the state, while coffee table book documents achievements of international-level athletes
Raipur, August 2026: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Saturday visited a photo exhibition highlighting the state’s rich sporting history and the achievements of its athletes and released the coffee table book ‘Hamare Khiladi’ at the State Sports Awards ceremony held at Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium in Raipur on the occasion of National Sports Day.
Chief Minister Sai viewed photographs and information showcasing the lives, struggles, achievements and contributions of prominent sporting personalities from Chhattisgarh. He appreciated the initiative aimed at preserving the state’s sporting legacy and taking the achievements and inspirational journeys of its athletes to the younger generation.
The special sports-themed photo exhibition features the lives and contributions of several sporting personalities from Chhattisgarh, including Shaheed Rajiv Pandey, Shaheed Pankaj Vikram, Shaheed Kaushal Yadav and Shaheed Vinod Choubey, presented through photographs and engaging information.
The exhibition also gives special prominence to Veer Hanuman Singh, highlighting his life, dedication to sports and notable contribution to the sporting world.
The exhibition effectively traces the journey of the state’s sporting talents from struggle to success. Alongside their achievements, it features inspiring episodes from their lives aimed at encouraging the younger generation to take up sports and strive for excellence.
On the occasion, Chief Minister Sai also released the coffee table book ‘Hamare Khiladi’. The publication features profiles, sporting journeys, major achievements and contributions of athletes who have brought recognition to Chhattisgarh at national and international levels, accompanied by photographs.
The book is intended not only to document the achievements of the state’s sporting talent but also to introduce the younger generation to Chhattisgarh’s rich sporting heritage and inspire aspiring athletes.
The photo exhibition and the coffee table book ‘Hamare Khiladi’ have been prepared jointly by the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare and the Department of Public Relations. Through these initiatives, the departments have sought to bring together the sporting history of Chhattisgarh, its celebrated sporting personalities and the achievements of contemporary athletes on a common platform.
The initiative is also aimed at highlighting the contribution of athletes who have enhanced the state’s reputation through their performances at various levels and creating greater awareness about Chhattisgarh’s sporting legacy.
Union Minister of State Tokhan Sahu, Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao, Culture Minister Rajesh Agrawal, Technical Education Minister Khushwant Saheb, MPs Brijmohan Agrawal and Vijay Baghel, and MLAs Purandar Mishra, Motilal Sahu and Sunil Soni were among those present.
Chhattisgarh Minority Commission Chairman Amarjeet Chhabra, Chhattisgarh State Youth Commission Chairman Vishwavijay Singh Tomar, Olympic Association president Dr Vikram Sisodia, office-bearers of various sports associations, athletes, coaches and a large number of sports enthusiasts also attended the programme.
