Patna: The Bihar government is resolute in its mission to enhance the state’s sports infrastructure and support athletes, ensuring they have access to every necessary facility. Sports grounds are being constructed not only in major cities but also in every panchayat, with plans to provide sports resources at these locations. “Athletes will now emerge from villages and bring glory to the state on both national and international stages,” stated Bihar’s Sports Minister Surendra Mehta on Tuesday during the Sipahi Bhagat Sports Award Ceremony.
At the ceremony, held at Open Mind A Birla School in Danapur, Sports Minister Surendra Mehta urged the state’s athletes to focus solely on their sporting careers, assuring them that the state government will address their concerns. He highlighted the establishment of the Sports Academy in Rajgir and the Eklavya Centres being operated by the government in various locations. Additionally, he mentioned the ongoing training centres under the Khelo India initiative, where athletes can advance their skills.
The event, organised by the Sipahi Bhagat Sports Foundation, commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by Sports Minister Surendra Mehta, Bihar Players Association President Mrityunjay Tiwari, School COO Aman Kumar, and Principal Paljinder Pal Singh. This was followed by a welcome song performed by the school’s girls. Special guests Avantika Bisht and Rajwinder Kaur were also in attendance. Principal Paljinder Pal Singh welcomed everyone with bouquets, shawls, and mementos.
On this occasion, Bihar Players Association President Mrityunjay Tiwari advised the students and athletes never to use shortcuts to achieve success, whether in sports or any other field of life. He encouraged them to work hard with integrity, assuring them that success would follow. He also motivated the schoolchildren and athletes by reminding them that they represent the future of the country and that some among them could go on to represent India in the World Cup, Asian Games, or even the Olympics.
School COO Aman Kumar assured that the doors of Open Mind A Birla School, Danapur, are always open for the state’s athletes. He emphasised that the school encourages students to excel in various activities beyond academics. Both the school and the Sipahi Bhagat Sports Foundation are committed to supporting development in fields such as sports. The schoolchildren impressed the audience with several outstanding cultural performances during the event.
At this felicitation ceremony, senior cricket coach Devki Nandan Das was honoured with the Sipahi Bhagat Khel Ratna Award. In addition, various sports association officials, coaches, and players were recognised for their contributions. The entire programme was conducted under the supervision of Santosh Tiwari, founder of the Sardar Patel Sports Foundation.
List of Honoured Sportspersons
- Sipahi Bhagat Khel Ratna Award: Devki Nandan Das
- Officials and Coaches of Various Sports Associations:
- Syed Imtiaz Hussain (Secretary, Bihar Football Association)
- Ravi Singh (Coach, Basketball)
- Sanjay Tiwari (Coach, Hockey)
- Vishakha Benedict (Swimming)
- Rajiv Ranjan (Volleyball)
- Rahul Das (Table Tennis)
- Anurag Bhuvalaka (Shooting)
- Vinod Kumar (Ball Badminton)
- Naveen Kumar (Cricket)
- Subhash Kumar (Karate)
- Sanoj Kumar (Archery)
- Abhay (Chess)
- Shrimod Pathak (Badminton)
- Honoured Players:
- Himanshu Hari (Ranji Trophy Cricketer)
- Vivek Kumar (Ranji Trophy Cricketer)
- Rishabh Raj (Ranji Trophy Cricketer)
- Prateek Arya (Under-23 Bihar State Cricketer)
- Vikram Kumar (Archery)
- Anshu Kumari (Handball)
- Suyash Madhup (Badminton)
- Ajay Kumar Munna (Shooting)
- Preeti Priya (Women’s Cricket)
- Deepanjali Rani (Women’s Cricket)
- Nandani Pandit (Women’s Cricket)
- Antara Rai (National Softball)
- Pragya Singh (National Softball)
- Rohit Kumar Suri (Pickupball)
- Bhoomi Gupta (Pickupball)
- Yogita Kumari (Soft Tennis)
- Deepti (Mini Golf)
- Shekhar Kumar (Soft Tennis)
- Satyam Vats (Badminton)
- Suruchi Pandey (Kabaddi)
- Khushi Kumari (Volleyball)
- Aarti Kumari (Sepak Takraw)
- Khushi Kumari (Football)
- Kundan Kumar (Rollball Skating)
- Shashikant (Ball Badminton)
- Preeti Raj (Karate)
- Kiran Kumari (Long Jump)
- Varsha Sagar (Softball)
- Eklavya Sharma (Table Tennis)
- Nimisha Rajput (Kabaddi)
- Rakshika Rajesh (Taekwondo)
- Ankaj Kumar (Handball)
- Rajiv Ranjan (Badminton)
- Teachers and Students of Open Mind A Birla School, Danapur:
- Teachers:
- Karandhir Sharma (Athletics)
- Poonam Pandey (Kho-Kho)
- Satyajeet Aditya (Carrom)
- Rahul Kumar (Judo)
- Nitish Kumar Upadhyay (Soft Tennis)
- Bhanu Prasad (Basketball)
- Students:
- Swetank, Sabhy Rai, Deepanshu Raj, Abhiraj, Himanya Singh, Shreya, Saksham Kumar (Judo)
- Pratham Chakraborty (Shooting)
- Anushka Ajay, Rishabh Raj, Yatharth Yashasvi (Athletics)
- Dev Kislay, Deven Aryan, Shaurya Singh, Rakshit Shaurya (Kabaddi)
- Pranay (Lawn Tennis)
- Arya Parashar (Soft Tennis)
- Prajjwal Giri (Skating)
- Siddhant Kumar (Skating)
- Teachers:
