Raipur (thestates.news) | National Sports Day was celebrated with fervour at NTPC Sipat on Friday as the Sansad Khel Mahotsav campaign was launched with an inter-village Kabaddi tournament. The event was inaugurated by Shri Tokhan Sahu, Union Minister of State for Housing & Urban Affairs and Member of Parliament from Bilaspur, who lit the ceremonial torch to open the games.
Addressing players and villagers on the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, Shri Sahu said the Sansad Khel Mahotsav was “not merely a competition but a platform to nurture leadership, team spirit and resilience among the youth.” He stressed that the progress of the nation depended on the fitness of its young generation, noting that initiatives like Fit India and Khelo India had boosted India’s performance in global sporting events.
The Minister informed that the campaign, launched on August 29, would continue till September 20 with sports registrations, while competitions across disciplines would be held from September 21 to December 25. He also administered the National Sports Day pledge, urging participants to stay physically fit, mentally strong and emotionally balanced.
A total of 96 players from eight project-affected villages—Rank, Sipat, Gatora, Karra, Deori, Kaudiya, Raliya and Janji—competed in the Kabaddi tournament. The final match witnessed a spirited contest, with Shiv Shakti Club of Raliya defeating Swami Vivekananda Club of Sipat 62–23 to clinch the title.
Shri Vijay Krishna Pandey, Executive Director and Head of Project, NTPC Sipat, felicitated the winners and runners-up, emphasising that true sportsmanship mattered more than victory. “Traditional games like Kabaddi not only build discipline and health but also instil unity among rural youth,” he remarked, congratulating all participants for their enthusiastic involvement in the Fit India movement.
The event was attended by Dr. Krishna Murti Bandhi, former Minister of Chhattisgarh, along with district and panchayat representatives, village sarpanchs, senior NTPC officials, employees, union members and media personnel. The theme “Khelhi Gaon, Badhhi Gaon” (The Village that Plays, Progresses) set the tone for the day-long celebration, which concluded with cheers for the young players who embodied the spirit of sportsmanship.(S-PIB)
