Patna: Bihar’s biggest athletics event, the 90th Bihar State Junior and Senior Athletics Championship 2024, began on Friday at the Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna. Bihar Sports Minister Surendra Mehta formally inaugurated the championship in the presence of Director General and Chief Executive Officer of Bihar State Sports Authority Raveendran Sankaran, Director and Secretary Pankaj Kumar Raj, and Secretary of Bihar Athletics Association Liaquat Ali.
While congratulating all the players and attendees, Sports Minister Surendra Mehta expressed that Bihar is continuously progressing in sports due to the positive policies and efforts of both the Central and State Governments, which is a matter of great happiness and pride. He emphasized the government’s commitment to the all-round development of sports and athletes in the state, highlighting plans to open sports clubs in every panchayat and ensure playgrounds in every Gram Panchayat. In panchayats where grounds are unavailable, the government will acquire land to provide playgrounds. He urged all players to compete with discipline and hard work to bring glory to Bihar by winning medals.
Director and Secretary of Bihar State Sports Authority Pankaj Kumar Raj stated that the Bihar State Junior and Senior Athletics Championship is the biggest athletics event in Bihar. Around 2,000 athletes are participating, including 540 girls and 1,350 boys from all 38 districts of Bihar.
The championship features competitions in all athletics events such as running, hurdle races, long jump, high jump, triple jump, javelin throw, shot put, and discus throw. Only the players who perform well and win in their respective events will be selected to represent Bihar in national and international competitions. The government will ensure that the selected talented players receive high-level training from skilled trainers to prepare them for national and international competitions.
