Raipur, Feb 26: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai met former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev at the CM Residence Office in Nava Raipur on Thursday to discuss strengthening the sporting ecosystem in the state. The meeting focused on establishing international-standard training centres and creating a roadmap to nurture local athletes for global platforms.

Chief Minister Sai presented the cricketing legend with a bell metal memento and a coffee table book, ‘Punyabhumi Chhattisgarh’. During the deliberations, the CM highlighted the state’s commitment to expanding modern sports infrastructure and ensuring improved facilities for tribal and rural youth.

The state government is prioritising a vibrant sporting culture by widening opportunities for promising players, the CM told Kapil Dev. Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Subodh Kumar Singh, was also present during the high-level interaction.

Kapil Dev lauded the ongoing transformation in Chhattisgarh, noting that an atmosphere of security and trust is essential for talent to flourish. He expressed confidence that the state’s youth would soon excel at national and international levels given the current trajectory of development.