- State Government Committed to Providing Opportunities, Resources and Platforms to Every Athlete: CM Sai
- Mahasamund’s Navleen Kaur Secures Spot in National Games; Won Gold at State-Level Archery Championship
In a strong show of support for emerging sports talent in the state, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai congratulated Mahasamund-based archer Navleen Kaur for securing her place in the upcoming National Games. The Chief Minister said that the Chhattisgarh government is committed to recognising talent and ensuring that every player gets opportunities, resources and a platform to succeed based on their hard work, dedication, and potential.
Extending his best wishes to Navleen, CM Sai said, “Young athletes like Navleen are the foundation of Chhattisgarh’s future. The state government will provide every possible assistance to nurture such talent across all levels of sport.”
Navleen’s story is one of sheer grit and determination. Born prematurely in the seventh month of pregnancy, she battled health complications in her early years. Constant queries about her health from neighbours, relatives and acquaintances made her feel uneasy. However, rather than succumbing to self-doubt, Navleen transformed the challenges into her strength and chose sports as her life’s path.
In February 2025, she clinched a gold medal at the state-level archery competition, proving that willpower and perseverance can overcome any obstacle.
A resident of Bagbahara in Mahasamund district, Navleen is the daughter of Shri Arvind and Smt. Ranjit Kaur Chhabra. Her journey into archery began in 2018 when she enrolled for training at the Bihajhar Balashram, located around five kilometres from her village. She went on to become Mahasamund’s first female archer. During her school years, she won medals at state-level competitions twice and secured fourth place in a national-level school archery tournament.
In 2023, Navleen represented Chhattisgarh at the FGFI National Archery Championship held in Gujarat and secured second place in the senior state-level archery championship.
Navleen’s ultimate dream is to represent India at international competitions and win medals. She shared that compound bows are used in such tournaments, and her family has recently gifted her a modern compound bow to help her prepare. She made a strong start in this format by winning first place in the compound round (girls category) at the City Open Archery Competition. She is currently training under coach and sports officer Shri Manoj Dhritlahare.
CM Sai lauded Navleen’s dedication and said, “In an era where cricket dominates the sports landscape, a young athlete choosing archery and working hard to win medals for the state and the nation is not only commendable but deeply inspiring. Talents like Navleen send a powerful message to Chhattisgarh’s youth – with commitment, practice, and self-confidence, any goal is achievable.”