RAIPUR: The Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Thursday approved the establishment of seven ‘Khelo India’ centres in Chhattisgarh under the Khelo India Scheme.

At the initiatives of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, the Sports and Youth Welfare Department had sent a proposal for opening the seven centres, which had been approved.

The seven centres will be opened for one game each in different districts. They are Weightlifting (Bemetara and Raipur), Football (Balod and Sukma), Kho-Kho (Patan-Durg district), Kabaddi (Kanker) and Badminton (Raigarh), an official communication said.

Sports Authority of India will provide financial assistance for setting up these centres. The total number of centres under the Khelo India scheme has gone up to 14 in the state.

Expressing happiness over the approval, the Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that the players of state will get a good chance to enhance their sporting talent. They will be able to compete at the national and international level.

Local senior players of each sport would be attached to the centre. They would be paid an honorarium for acting as coaches. Equal representation of boys and girls players will also be ensured in all Khelo India centres. These centers will be registered in the Sports Authority of India portal.

The Directorate of Sports and Youth Welfare will continuously monitor these centres.

Earlier, the centres approve includes Archery Centre in Shivtarai Bilaspur and Bijapur, Hockey Centre in Rajnandgaon and Jashpur, Volleyball Centre in Gariaband, Mallakhamb Centre in Narayanpur and Khelo India Center in Ambikapur Surguja.