The 27th All India Forest Sports Festival has officially commenced in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday and will run until October 22. This year’s festival features an impressive lineup of 23 sports disciplines and approximately 300 competitions, bringing together around 3,000 participants.
Among the guests attending the opening and closing ceremonies are Olympic bronze medalist Manu Bhaker, Indian T20 cricket captain Suryakumar Yadav, and other prominent dignitaries.
The event, which was initiated in 1992 under the leadership of the then Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, aims to promote sports and foster mutual coordination among employees of the forest department at all levels.
The festival’s mission is to identify and nurture sports talent from the grassroots to senior levels within the forest department, fostering teamwork, concentration, and perseverance among participants.
Notable attendees at the opening ceremony will include Union Forest Minister Bhupendra Yadav, Bihar’s Cooperative and Forest Minister Dr. Prem Kumar, Union Forest Department Secretary Leena Nandan, and Director General of Forests Jitendra Kumar.
In adherence to all official sports regulations, the competitions will be conducted with oversight from experts to ensure fairness and transparency. Athletes will compete for gold, silver, and bronze medals, with certificates of excellence awarded for outstanding performances. Winning states will also receive trophies in recognition of their achievements.
The closing ceremony on October 20 will feature a special appearance by Manu Bhaker, celebrating her achievements in shooting.
Throughout the festival, a variety of indoor and outdoor sports such as cricket, hockey, football, volleyball, badminton, chess, and bridge will be held.
