Torch of Pride Yatra flagged off to spread sports awareness; Chhattisgarh gears up to host national tribal sports event
Published on: January 15, 2025
By: BTNI
Location: Rajnandgaon, India
In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to promote sports culture in remote and tribal regions of the country, preparations for the Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 have gained momentum. Chhattisgarh has been entrusted with hosting this prestigious national-level sporting event, which will be held in Raipur and Jagdalpur, marking a moment of pride for the state.
As part of an extensive outreach and awareness campaign, the Torch of Pride Yatra, organised under the aegis of the Sports Authority of India (SAI), is touring districts across the state. On Wednesday, the grand torch procession reached Rajnandgaon, where it received a warm and ceremonial welcome at the Digvijay Stadium complex.
The programme witnessed the presence of several public representatives, sports administrators and eminent sportspersons. District Panchayat Vice-President Kiran Sahu, Janpad Panchayat President Pratima Chandrakar, Santosh Agrawal (former Chairman, Rajgami Sampada Nyas), Ramesh Patel, Komal Singh Rajput (District BJP President), Firoz Ansari (President, Chhattisgarh Hockey), A. Ekka (Assistant Director, Sports and Youth Welfare Department), international hockey player Mrinal Chaubey, District Education Officer Pravas Singh Baghel, District Sports Officer Anil Gautam, Digvijay Stadium Manager Devendra Thakur, Khelo India coaches Ganesh Prasad Sharma and Shakeel Ahmed, and SAI Centre coach Paramjeet Singh were among those present.
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During the event, the official mascot of the Khelo India Tribal Games, ‘Morveer’, was accorded a cordial welcome with garlands and bouquets. District Panchayat Vice-President Kiran Sahu later flagged off the Torch of Pride Yatra, symbolising the spread of sports awareness and inspiration among the youth.
The torch vehicle toured major locations of the city and visited educational institutions including V School and Chikhli School, where students and young athletes were briefed about the concept, opportunities and significance of the Khelo India Tribal Games 2026. Special guidance sessions were organised for young hockey players, focusing on talent identification, quality benchmarks and modern training systems under the Tribal Games framework.
The Khelo India Tribal Games aim to identify hidden sporting talent from remote tribal regions and provide them with scientific and modern training, enabling them to compete at national and international levels. The initiative is seen as a strong step towards sports development, social inclusion, self-reliance and nation-building.
