Raipur
Along with the development in the state of Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai, many dimensions are opening for the youth along with the development. Athletics player Santoshi Bhandari of Bijapur Sports Academy, run by the state government, has been selected for the National Center of Excellence Bhopal of Sports Authority of India. This selection is based on the selection list released by the Sports Authority of India on 24 April 2025. In which 10 girls athletes across the country have been selected on the basis of excellent performance. Santoshi Bhandari is the youngest player in the list, who is undergoing training at Bijapur Sports Academy.
Santoshi Bhandari, a student of Eklavya Adarsh ​​Residential School Bijapur, recently represented Chhattisgarh in the 400 meters and 600 meter race at the 68th National School Games held in Ranchi Jharkhand from 11 to 14 January 2025 by the School Games Federation of India. He finished 8th at the All India level in 400 meters, 1:02 minutes and 1:41 minutes in 600 meters. Prior to this, he secured 4 place in the 35th West Zone Junior Athletics Championships organized by the Athletics Federation of India in Nagpur Maharashtra from 4 to 6 October 2024.
The Sports Authority of India selects players who have excelled from across the country every year and provide them high level training and diet at the National Center of Excellence. For Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh, it is a matter of pride that a daughter here has made her mark at the national level.
