Patna: Bihar has received a big push in the field of sports with the approval to open an Olympic fencing training centre in the state. The decision was taken by the Union sports minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, on Tuesday. The new centre is expected to help young players train at an international level and improve Bihar’s presence in Olympic sports, especially fencing, which has been gaining attention in recent years.
The proposal for the fencing training centre was presented by Bihar’s sports minister, Shreyasi Singh, during a meeting in Delhi. She was accompanied by senior officials of the Bihar State Sports Authority, including director general Ravindran Shankaran and other officers. During the meeting, Singh explained the steps being taken by the Bihar government to improve sports facilities, support athletes and encourage young talent. The Union minister appreciated these efforts and gave his approval for setting up the Olympic-level training centre in the state.
In another important achievement, Bihar has been selected to host the country’s first Youth National Games. The national sporting event will be organised in the state in 2028. The approval for hosting the games has been given by Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha. Officials said the event will give young athletes from across India a chance to compete in Bihar and will also help the state develop better sports infrastructure and gain national recognition.
The Bihar sports minister also discussed international exposure for state officials and athletes. She proposed that Bihar sports officials should take part in a sports expo to be held in China next year. The Union sports minister agreed to the proposal and said a joint team of central and state officials would attend the event. He also invited Bihar officials to take part in the Sports Manthan camp in January, where experts, coaches and players from across the country will discuss ways to improve Olympic performance.
The meeting ended with a cultural gesture, as Bihar officials honoured the Union sports minister and minister of state Raksha N Khadse with Madhubani painting sarees, stoles and a symbol of the Bodhi tree. With these new developments, Bihar is steadily moving forward in its efforts to become an important centre for sports training and national-level competitions in the coming years.
