Lok Sabha MP Radheshyam Rathia formally opened the three-day Chhattisgarh state-level sports competition for 2026–27 at the Eklvya Model Residential School in Chharratangar, Gharghoda block, where roughly 515 boy athletes from eight clusters are competing across multiple disciplines, according to local media reports.

Table Tennis and Shot Put Medals Decided on Opening Day

Raigarh’s Sagar Dhruv claimed the gold medal in the under-14 boys’ individual table tennis event on the opening day of the tournament. Dhruv defeated Vinayak Paikra of Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi 3–0 in the final, securing set scores of 15-13, 11-9, and 11-7. Paikra finished second, while Rupesh Kumar of Surguja took third place. In the under-19 boys’ shot put, Shivam Sirso of Dharamjaigarh, Raigarh district, threw 9.99 meters to take first place. Baldev Singh of Wadrafnagar placed second with 9.72 meters, and Bhavesh of Dhamtari finished third with 8.85 meters. Meanwhile, in the under-14 boys’ category, Surendra Kola of the Kanker cluster threw 11.53 meters to win the gold, followed by Renuram of Sukma in second and Jivra Khan of Dhamtari in third.

Kanker Wins Kho-Kho Final as Chess and Yoga Champions Emerge

The kho-kho tournament culminated in a final match between the Kanker and Dhamtari clusters, with Kanker securing the victory and the championship title. In under-14 boys’ chess, Akash Topo of Eklavya School Mainpat took first place, Kunal Thakur of Bhoring finished second, and Tameshwar Koreti of Antagarh placed third. In the under-19 chess division, Narad Singh of Balrampur won the title, with Sahil Kumar Nareti of Antagarh second and Yesurya Dhruva of Mainpur third. Traditional yoga competition saw Priyanjal Ekka of Surguja win gold in the under-19 category, Prince Suryavanshi of Balrampur take silver, and Dukesh Kumar of Raigarh earn bronze. In the under-14 yoga bracket, Abhay Minj of Lundra (Surguja cluster) placed first, Aditya Kumar Netam of Kanker second, and Avinash Singh of Balrampur third.

Basketball and Team Sports Draw Seven Clusters to Semifinals

Seven teams entered the under-19 boys’ basketball tournament, with the Kanker, Balrampur, Bastar, and Sukma clusters advancing to the semifinal rounds. Additional fixtures in kabaddi, volleyball, and football continued alongside individual events. School principal Maniram Jangde noted that physical education instructors, coaches, and invited guests were present to oversee the matches, which span balrampur, bastar, dhamtari, gaurela-pendra-marwahi, raigarh, kanker, surguja, and sukma clusters.

The three-day state-level meet concludes its schedule following the final medal events across track, court, and board disciplines.