Patna: Bihar is set to develop water sports with technical and institutional support from Madhya Pradesh, following high-level discussions between sports officials of the two states. Bihar Sports Minister Shreyasi Singh met Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav to explore collaboration in developing water sports infrastructure and training facilities in the state.
As part of the initiative, Shreyasi Singh visited canoeing, kayaking and rowing academies in Bhopal to study Madhya Pradesh’s water sports model. The visit focused on understanding training systems, infrastructure requirements and operational frameworks needed to establish similar facilities in Bihar.
Indian Canoeing and Kayaking Federation (ICKF) President Prashant Kushwaha has agreed to send international water sports experts, including a Canadian Olympian, to Bihar next week to survey suitable locations for setting up a water sports academy. The federation has also assured full support in developing the academy, from site selection and construction of jetties to procurement and supply of necessary equipment.
According to the agreement, the Indian Canoeing and Kayaking Federation will not only assist in setting up the academy but will also take responsibility for its operations and training for the first two years. During this period, trainers from Bihar will receive training under world-class coaches associated with the federation, with the aim of preparing athletes for national and international competitions.
The discussions also resulted in a broader sports cooperation framework between Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. In the presence of Shreyasi Singh, her delegation, and Madhya Pradesh Sports Minister Vishwas Kailash Sarang, officials agreed that 20 percent seats in various sports academies in Madhya Pradesh will be reserved for athletes from Bihar. These facilities will be available particularly for training in shooting, archery, boxing and water sports.
It was further agreed that until Bihar develops full-fledged infrastructure in certain sports disciplines, its athletes will be allowed to train at Madhya Pradesh’s facilities under the guidance of national and international coaches. Both states consented to mutual exchange of sports knowledge, coaches and experts, and to maintain close coordination to strengthen athlete development.
Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh has shown interest in adopting Bihar’s sports talent identification programme ‘Mashal’. Sarang held detailed discussions with Bihar State Sports Authority Director General and CEO Ravindran Shankaran on the implementation and success of the scheme. Impressed by the programme, Sarang directed officials to initiate steps to implement the Mashal scheme in Madhya Pradesh as well.
A team of officials from Madhya Pradesh is expected to visit Bihar soon to study the Mashal programme’s operational model and assess its applicability, marking another step towards deeper sports collaboration between the two states.
