CM Yadav : Kreeda Bharati honored the mothers of six athletes who brought pride to the nation with the Jijamata Award.
CM Yadav stated that when an athlete wins a medal in national or international competitions, it is not only the result of the athlete’s hard work but also the sacrifices, dedication, love, emotions, tears, and endless efforts of the mother who nurtured them. Women play a crucial role in shaping the nation and supporting athletes. The family serves as the first training ground for children, and mothers excel in this role. By honoring them, we take pride in their contribution. It is vital for both society and the government to adopt a supportive stance toward sports and athletes. We are dedicated to working in this direction to foster the growth of all sports and ensure equal opportunities for athletes in the state.
Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya stated that women’s power has brought honor and pride to the nation. He highlighted that sports are a fundamental part of our lives, culture, and nature. The government is implementing a new National Sports Policy focused on developing athletes who will win more Olympic medals for India. This policy targets the training of athletes between the ages of 9 to 15. With initiatives like Khelo India School Games, Khelo India University Games, and Khelo India Youth Games, we are making significant progress and achieving positive outcomes. Our goal is to identify talented athletes at the district level, bring them to the state level, and prepare them for national and international competitions. Dr. Mandaviya congratulated all the women who received the Jijamata Award and emphasized that mothers play the most vital role in the nation’s reconstruction, urging everyone to contribute to this mission.
Shri Dattatreya Hosabale, the Sarkaryawah (General Secretary) of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, remarked that Jijamata played a crucial role in transforming Shivaji into Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. She was a figure of immense determination and a skilled administrator. Organizing an award ceremony in her name to honor women of strength is a tribute to the sacrifices and dedication of every mother in the country who has nurtured athletes bringing glory to the nation. He described Jijamata as a courageous and patient mother, full of valor and resilience. She taught the young Shivaji warfare skills and managed the administration with great expertise. She prepared Shivaji Maharaj to protect the nation and its religion, teaching him to never submit, famously declaring that her son Shiva would never be a slave and would create an independent kingdom. Her inspiration laid the foundation for the independent Hindu nation led by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Shri Vishwas Kailash Sarang, Minister of Sports and Youth Welfare, emphasized that to strengthen the nation, we must first focus on strengthening both our body and mind. He stated that a mother is a child’s first teacher, and her contributions make everything possible. He congratulated Kreeda Bharati for organizing the national-level honor ceremony in Bhopal, acknowledging that this event not only honors mothers but also recognizes the Madhya Pradesh government’s efforts in supporting sports and athletes.
Shri Chaitanya Kumar Kashyap, National Working President of Kreeda Bharati and Minister of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, highlighted the program’s goals, stating that Kreeda Bharati is committed to the development of sports. He noted that athletes serve as role models for the youth, and the government is making strong efforts to bring sports to every village. He praised Chief Minister Dr. Yadav, a former wrestler, for his known passion for sports. The work done by Kreeda Bharati to promote sports as a cultural value is fully supported by the government.
At the event, mothers of athletes who have brought honor to the nation at national and international sports events were honored with the Jijamata Award by Kreeda Bharati. The recipients included Smt. Gauridevi, mother of international gymnast and Khel Ratna awardee Ms. Dipa Karmakar; Smt. Usha Kumari, mother of international hockey goalkeeper Shri P.R. Sreejesh; Smt. Mamoni Devi Borgohain, mother of Olympic boxer Sushri Lovlina; Smt. Shweta Jevaria, mother of para-shooter Ms. Avani Lekhara, a gold medalist in both the Tokyo and Paris Paralympics; and Smt. Kamla Devi, mother of international hockey player Shri Vivek Sagar Prasad from Madhya Pradesh. Smt. Saroj Chopra, mother of Shri Neeraj Chopra, gold medalist in javelin throw at the last Olympic Games, was also honored with the Jijamata Award. In her absence, the award was received by Shri Neeraj Chopra’s uncle, Shri Bhim Singh. During the program, the “Khel-Khiladi-Khel” sports anthem was also launched.
The Kreeda Gyan Pareeksha Puraskar was also presented at the event.
The Chetanya Kashyap Foundation has been organizing a national-level online Sports Knowledge Examination annually for the past three years. In 2024, 1.4 lakh participants took part in this examination. The foundation awards the winners annually with a total prize money of Rs. 5 lakh. The prizes include a first prize of Rs. 1 lakh, two second prizes of Rs. 50,000 each, and 11 third prizes of Rs. 11,000 each.
This year, the Rs. 1 lakh first prize was awarded to Shri Parth Prajapat from Indore, Malwa region. The two Rs. 50,000 second prizes were awarded to Shri Abhishek Kumar from South Bihar and Shri Dev Karelia from Saurashtra. The main aim of this examination is to inspire youth towards sports.
During the Jijamata Award ceremony, Smt. Shweta Jevaria shared her experiences of supporting her daughter, para-shooter Sushri Avani Lekhara, in achieving her goals. She emphasized the importance of teaching children to face challenges without losing their morale, as this is crucial for them to become successful athletes.
The event was attended by Shri Deepak Sancheti, Shri Raj Chaudhary, Shri Shailendra Srivastava, other Khel Bharati officials, a large number of athletes, their families, and sports enthusiasts.