CM Vishnu Deo Sai congratulates state team for winning the All India Forest Sports Meet Overall Championship for the 13th consecutive year, with 150 medals and record-breaking performances.

CM Vishnu Deo Sai felicitated the victorious Chhattisgarh contingent that clinched the Overall Championship at the All India Forest Sports Meet for the 13th consecutive year. The felicitation ceremony was held at the Medical College campus in Raipur, where Shri Sai praised the athletes for their discipline, dedication, and exceptional performance, which has consistently placed Chhattisgarh at the forefront of national sporting excellence.

“Your hard work and achievements have elevated Chhattisgarh’s stature across the country. This victory is a moment of collective pride for the entire state,” said Shri Sai while encouraging the athletes.

Chhattisgarh Dominates the 28th All India Forest Sports Meet

The 28th All India Forest Sports Meet, held in Dehradun from November 12 to 16, 2025, saw Chhattisgarh maintain its dominance, winning the Overall Championship trophy for the 13th straight year. The trophy was presented by Uttarakhand Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Gurmit Singh and Forest Minister Shri Subodh Uniyal, and received on behalf of Chhattisgarh by IFS officer Smt. Shalini Raina and the team’s nodal officer.

also read: Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai Pays Tribute to Former…

Record-Breaking Performance by Chhattisgarh Athletes

Chhattisgarh’s 253-member contingent delivered an extraordinary performance, securing 150 medals and 578 points, finishing 221 points ahead of the first runner-up. The medal tally included 74 gold, 34 silver, and 42 bronze medals, showcasing the team’s all-round excellence.

Notable individual performances included:

• Nikhil Zalko – five gold medals in swimming, awarded Best Male Athlete

• Sangeeta Rajagopalan – four gold and one silver in badminton and tennis, awarded Best Female Athlete

• Thota Sankeertana – five gold medals in the women’s open category, awarded Best Athlete

Veteran athletes Sukhnandan Lal Dhruv and Charulata Gajpal also contributed significantly to the medal haul.

Visionary Leadership and Team Support

The team’s success is credited to the guidance of Forest Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap and the leadership of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Shri V. Srinivas Rao, whose continuous support has propelled Chhattisgarh to national sporting excellence.

The victory is seen not just as a sporting achievement but as a golden chapter in Chhattisgarh’s Forest Department legacy, highlighting discipline, hard work, and unmatched sportsmanship.

The ceremony was attended by prominent officials, including Health Minister Shri Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, NAN Chairman Shri Sanjay Shrivastava, Yoga Commission Chairman Shri Roop Narayan Sinha, Tribal & Traditional Health Practices Board Chairman Shri Vikas Markam, Waqf Board Chairman Dr. Salim Raj, and numerous victorious athletes.