Assembly Speaker Dr Raman Singh and Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao Inaugurate State-Level Competition at Digvijay Stadium
Published on: August 10, 2026
By: BTNI
Location: Rajnandgaon, India
The 25th Chhattisgarh State Junior Ranking Badminton Tournament 2026-27 began at Digvijay Stadium in Rajnandgaon on Sunday, with Assembly Speaker Dr Raman Singh and Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao inaugurating the competition.
The tournament is being organised by the District Badminton Association, Rajnandgaon and will be held from August 9 to August 13, 2026. Players in the Under-19 boys’ and girls’ categories are participating in the state-level competition.
Raman Singh Encourages Young Players
Assembly Speaker Dr Raman Singh extended his best wishes to all participating players and said hosting a state-level badminton tournament in Rajnandgaon was a matter of pride for the city.
Encouraging the players, he urged them to deliver outstanding performances and build their identity from the state level to the national and international stages.
Dr Singh said Rajnandgaon has no shortage of sporting talent. Players from the district have been steadily making progress in hockey, football, cricket, basketball, badminton, judo, karate, wrestling and several other sports.
He said efforts are being made to further develop Rajnandgaon as a sports city by strengthening sports infrastructure. Work is continuously underway to provide fields, courts, training facilities and other essential resources according to the requirements of players.
He said the government has made large-scale provisions to promote sports, with special attention being given to player training, coaching, specialised training for coaches and development of sports infrastructure.
Providing better opportunities and necessary facilities to sporting talent to progress, he said, remains a priority of the government.
Dr Raman Singh also said children in Rajnandgaon are increasingly coming to playgrounds with enthusiasm for sports. A large number of children can be seen practising hockey, football, cricket and other sports in the mornings, reflecting the city’s sporting culture and the strong foundation of its sporting talent.
He urged players to move towards their goals with discipline, consistent practice and hard work. He expressed confidence that players from Rajnandgaon would bring glory to the state and the country.
Arun Sao Calls Rajnandgaon the ‘Sports Capital’
Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao congratulated the players and organisers and said Rajnandgaon, known as Sanskaradhani, is now also establishing its identity as a sports capital.
He said talented players such as Gyaneshwari Yadav have brought recognition to Rajnandgaon at the global level, while the district has many other sporting talents as well.
Extending his best wishes to all participants, Sao urged the players to embrace Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message, “Jo Khelega, Wahi Khilega”, and play with complete dedication and hard work to progress and bring glory to the country.
VIDEO LINK- https://youtu.be/fHWIfY_aOV4
Sao said continuous efforts have been undertaken for the growth and welfare of sports and sportspersons since the government came to power in the state.
He said the pending announcement concerning outstanding sportspersons had been fulfilled, with 156 players declared outstanding sportspersons this year, reflecting the government’s commitment towards sports and athletes.
He said large-scale events are continuously being organised to promote different sports alongside the development of sports infrastructure across the state.
The Chief Minister Sports Excellence Mission has been allocated ₹100 crore, which is being used for the development of sports infrastructure, training and facilities for sportspersons.
Sao said that if the Badminton Association submits proposals regarding infrastructure, consideration would be given to making necessary budgetary provisions as required.
He expressed confidence that the tournament would be successful and that talented players emerging from the competition would bring recognition to the state and the country.
Santosh Pandey Highlights Need for Better Sports Facilities
Member of Parliament Santosh Pandey extended his best wishes to the participating players and said sporting talent continues to emerge in Rajnandgaon across disciplines including volleyball, football, hockey and badminton.
He said players from Rajnandgaon have established their identity at the state and national levels through their talent, which is a matter of pride for the district.
Encouraging the players, Pandey urged them to move forward in sports with hard work and dedication.
He emphasised the need to make better use of the buildings and other resources available at the Digvijay Stadium complex for the benefit of players.
He said the necessary infrastructure should be developed for training and practice in badminton and other sports so that players from Rajnandgaon can receive better facilities and showcase their talent at the national level.
Officials, Association Members and Players Attend
The welcome address was delivered by Vikram Singh Sisodia, President of the Chhattisgarh Badminton Association.
The programme was attended by Purnima Sahu, Chairperson of Rajgami Sampada Nyas; Komal Singh Rajput; Ramesh Patel; Rajesh Shyamkar; Yogesh Bagri; District Panchayat CEO Durga Prasad Adhikari; Additional Collector C.L. Markandey, along with a large number of public representatives, office-bearers of the District Badminton Association, coaches, trainers and players.
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