Chief Minister meets and congratulates the winners of the All India Forest Sports Meet

Chhattisgarh becomes Overall Champion for the 13th consecutive time in the All India Forest Sports Meet

Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai met and congratulated the players of Chhattisgarh who emerged as Overall Champions for the 13th consecutive time in the All India Forest Sports Meet. The meeting took place today on the premises of the Medical College in Raipur. The Chief Minister extended heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all the players for this remarkable achievement.

Encouraging the players, the Chief Minister said that through their excellent performance, they have brought great pride to Chhattisgarh and elevated the state’s reputation across the country. Their achievement is a matter of honor for the entire state.

It is noteworthy that at the 28th All India Forest Sports Meet, held in Dehradun from 12 to 16 November, Chhattisgarh maintained its dominance and won the Overall Championship Trophy for the 13th consecutive year. This victory symbolizes the state’s glorious tradition, discipline, hard work, and the team’s unwavering commitment. During the grand closing ceremony, the Overall Championship Trophy was jointly presented by the Hon’ble Governor of Uttarakhand, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Gurmit Singh, and Forest Minister Shri Subodh Uniyal. The trophy was received on behalf of Chhattisgarh by IFS officer Smt. Shalini Raina and the team’s nodal officer. Their leadership, unity, and exceptional performance played a key role in achieving this milestone.

With a strong contingent of 253 members, Chhattisgarh delivered an extraordinary performance, winning 150 medals and scoring 578 points, securing a historic lead of 221 points over the first runner-up. The team bagged 74 gold, 34 silver, and 42 bronze medals, showcasing complete dominance in the competition.

Several athletes excelled individually as well, adding to the state’s pride:

• Nikhil Zalko won five gold medals in swimming and was declared the Best Male Athlete.
• Sangeeta Rajagopalan won four golds and one silver in badminton and tennis, earning the title of Best Female Athlete.
• Thota Sankirtan won five gold medals and became the Best Athlete in the Women’s Open Category.
• Sukhnandan Lal Dhruv and Charulata Gajpal excelled in the veteran category, further enhancing Chhattisgarh’s prestige.

This historic accomplishment is attributed to the visionary leadership of Forest Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap and the inspiring guidance of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Shri V. Srinivas Rao. Their continuous support, direction, and encouragement have played a crucial role in consistently taking the team to new heights. This victory by the Chhattisgarh Forest Department is not merely a sports achievement but a golden chapter that has set new benchmarks of sportsmanship and excellence at the national level. Once again, the state has proven that its sporting tradition, hard work, and spirit keep it at the top.

Several dignitaries were present at the occasion, including Health Minister Shri Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, NAN Chairman Shri Sanjay Srivastava, Yoga Commission Chairman Shri Roop Narayan Sinha, Chairman of the Tribal, Local Health Tradition & Medicinal Plant Board Shri Vikas Markam, Waqf Board Chairman Dr. Salim Raj, PCCF Shri V. Srinivas Rao, members of the Minor Forest Produce Federation, and a large number of winning athletes.