Assembly Speaker Dr. Raman Singh and Deputy Chief Minister Shri Arun Sao inaugurated the 25th Chhattisgarh State Junior Ranking Badminton Tournament, organized by the District Badminton Association, at the Digvijay Stadium in Rajnandgaon. Under-19 boys and girls players are participating in the tournament, which is being held from August 9th to August 13th, 2026.
Extending his best wishes to all the participating players, Assembly Speaker Dr. Raman Singh said that it is a matter of pride that a state-level badminton tournament is being held in Rajnandgaon. He encouraged the players to excel and make their mark at the national and international levels. He stated that Rajnandgaon has no shortage of sporting talent. Players from the region are continuously advancing in various sports, including hockey, football, cricket, basketball, badminton, judo, karate, and wrestling.
Assembly Speaker Dr. Singh stated that sports infrastructure is being strengthened to further develop Rajnandgaon as a sports city. Continuous efforts are being made to provide grounds, courts, training facilities, and other necessary resources to meet the needs of athletes. He stated that the government has allocated significant funds to promote sports. Special attention is being paid to the development of sports infrastructure, along with the training and coaching of athletes and specialized training of trainers. He stated that providing better opportunities and necessary facilities for the advancement of sports talent is a priority for the government.
He said that children from Rajnandgaon are also reaching the grounds with enthusiasm for sports. In the morning, a large number of children are seen practicing various sports, including hockey, football, and cricket. This reflects Rajnandgaon’s sports culture and the strong foundation of talent here. He urged the players to pursue their goals with discipline, consistent practice, and hard work. He expressed confidence that Rajnandgaon’s players will bring glory to the state and the country. Congratulating
all the players and organizers, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Arun Sao said that Rajnandgaon, in addition to being a cultural capital, is now also establishing itself as a sports capital. Talented players like Gyaneshwari Yadav have brought glory to Rajnandgaon globally, and the district boasts of numerous such sporting talents. He extended his best wishes to all the players participating in the competition, urging them to embrace Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s message, “Those who play will flourish.” He urged them to play with dedication and hard work, progress, and bring glory to the country.
Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Saw stated that since the formation of the government in the state, continuous work has been carried out for the advancement and betterment of sports and athletes. Fulfilling the pending announcement of outstanding athletes, 156 athletes have been declared outstanding athletes this year, which reflects the government’s commitment to sports and athletes. He added that along with the development of sports infrastructure in the state, major events are being organized to promote various sports. A provision of ₹100 crore has been made for the Chief Minister’s Sports Excellence Mission, which is being used to develop sports infrastructure, training, and facilities for athletes. He stated that if the Badminton Association submits proposals regarding infrastructure, budgetary allocations will be considered as needed. He expressed confidence that this competition will be a success and that talented athletes will emerge from here, bringing glory to the state and the country.
MP Shri Santosh Pandey, while congratulating the players participating in the competition, said that Rajnandgaon is continuously witnessing the emergence of talent in various sports, including volleyball, football, hockey, and badminton. He added that Rajnandgaon players have earned recognition at the state and national level on the strength of their talent, which is a matter of pride for the district. Encouraging the players present, he urged them to pursue sports with hard work and dedication. MP Shri Pandey emphasized the need to optimally utilize the buildings and other resources available at the Digvijay Stadium complex for the benefit of the players. He said that the necessary infrastructure should be developed for training and practice in other sports, including badminton, so that Rajnandgaon players can receive better facilities and showcase their talent at the national level. Chhattisgarh Badminton Association President Mr. Vikram Singh Sisodiya, Rajgami Sampada Trust President Mrs. Purnima Sahu, Mr. Komal Singh Rajput, Mr. Ramesh Patel, Mr. Rajesh Shyamkar, Mr. Yogesh Bagdi and District Panchayat CEO Mr. Durga Prasad Adhikari along with a large number of public representatives, District Badminton Association officials, coaches, trainers and players were present in the program.
