Patna: Bihar Sports Minister Shreyasi Singh on Wednesday reviewed the functioning and future priorities of Bihar’s Sports Department during a high-level meeting at Vikas Bhawan, laying out an expansive plan aimed at strengthening the state’s sports infrastructure and athlete development systems.
The meeting was attended by newly appointed Sports Secretary Vinod Singh Gunjiyal, Director Sports Aarif Ahsan and senior departmental officials.
Focus On Monitoring And Talent Development
During the review, Singh stressed the need for regular monitoring and time-bound implementation of projects, directing officials to conduct departmental review meetings every Monday and Wednesday to ensure smoother execution of schemes and initiatives.
A significant focus of the meeting was on Eklavya Schools and sports training centres across the state. The minister instructed officials to closely monitor player selection processes, implementation standards and catchment areas to identify talented athletes from different sporting disciplines.
She said promising players should be sent to leading academies across India for advanced training, while coaches from Bihar would also be deputed to reputed institutions to study modern coaching techniques and sports management systems.
Water Sports Academy And Shooting Range Proposed
The meeting reviewed the proposed Water Sports Academy project at Odhni Dam in Banka and a proposed shooting range in Jamui. Singh directed the Building Construction Department and concerned agencies to prepare detailed project proposals and models so work could begin immediately once funding is approved.
She also called for the adoption of successful models from other states, pointing to the high-performance systems developed by the Sports Authority of India as a template Bihar could emulate.
Singh said Bihar should work towards building its own Centre of Excellence ecosystem with adequate technical support, sports science infrastructure and trained personnel.
Rajgir Tipped As Future Sporting Destination
Highlighting the need to improve Bihar’s sporting visibility, the minister said renowned athletes and sports personalities should be associated with state infrastructure and events. She described Rajgir as a potential national sporting destination where elite athletes could train, interact with players and attract wider attention to Bihar’s sports initiatives.
PPP Model For Sports Infrastructure
The meeting also discussed newly drafted Public Private Partnership (PPP) guidelines for sports infrastructure management. Singh said private entities would be encouraged to participate in the maintenance and operation of sports facilities at district and block levels, but added that strict Standard Operating Procedures, transparent eligibility criteria and fixed allotment timelines would be enforced.
According to the proposed framework, district magistrates and their committees would supervise the model to ensure long-term sustainability and accountability.
The minister also directed that sports infrastructure across the state must not be diverted for non-sporting purposes or occupied by other government departments.
Officials reviewed the status of sports-related projects announced during the state government’s Pragati Yatra, with Singh instructing departments to ensure that execution work and payments are not delayed unnecessarily.
Bihar To Honour Olympian Shivnath Singh
In another key decision, the department resolved to honour Shivnath Singh, Bihar’s first Olympian, whose achievements and contribution to Indian athletics will be showcased prominently to inspire young athletes.
Shivnath Singh represented India at the 1976 and 1980 Olympics and held the national marathon record set in 1978 for several decades.
Preparations Underway For 2026 State Games
Preparations for the State Games, scheduled to be organised by the Bihar Olympic Association from September 27 to October 3, 2026, were also reviewed during the meeting.
Association president Ajay Kumar said the tournament was expected to become one of the biggest sporting events hosted by Bihar.
Officials discussed adopting best practices from successful sporting events held in other states, while medal winners and promising athletes would be supported with training opportunities at premier institutes in India and abroad.
The department also considered athlete exchange programmes that would allow Bihar’s players to train at leading facilities outside the state. Sports infrastructure already built at block and panchayat levels may also be handed over to sports associations on a rotational basis for active use and operational management.
