Jijamata taught us that with determination, even the impossible can be made possible: CM Dr. Yadav

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav has stated that, when an athlete wins a medal in a national or international competition, it is not just the result of the athlete's hard work but also the sacrifices, dedication, devotion, emotions, tears, and countless efforts of the mother who shaped them. Women play a pivotal role in building the nation and nurturing athletes. The family is the first training school for children, and mothers excel in this role. By honoring them, we feel proud ourselves. It is essential for society and the government to adopt a supportive approach toward sports and athletes. We are committed to working in this direction to promote the development of all sports and provide equal opportunities for athletes in the state.

Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya remarked, women power has brought respect and pride to this nation. Sports are an integral part of our lives, our culture, and our nature. We are implementing a new National Sports Policy aimed at preparing athletes who will win more Olympic medals for the country. This policy focuses on training athletes aged 9 to 15. Through initiatives like Khelo India School Games, Khelo India University Games, and Khelo India Youth Games, we are progressing in this direction, yielding positive results. We aim to identify talented athletes from districts, bring them to the state level, and prepare them for national and international competitions. I congratulate all the women honored with the Jijamata Award and emphasize that mothers play the most crucial role in the nation's rebuilding. We all must contribute to this mission.

The Sarkaryawah (General Secretary) of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Shri Dattatreya Hosabale, stated that it was Jijamata who transformed Shivaji into Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. She was a towering figure of determination and a skilled administrator. Organizing an honor ceremony in her name to recognize women of strength is a tribute to the sacrifices and dedication of every mother in the country who has nurtured athletes who bring glory to the nation. He said that Jijamata was a courageous and patient mother, full of valor and fortitude. She taught the brave Shivaji the skills of warfare and managed administration proficiently. She prepared Shivaji Maharaj to defend the nation and its religion. She taught him never to bow down, famously saying that her son Shiva would never become a slave and would build an independent kingdom. Her inspiration laid the foundation for the independent Hindu nation led by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Minister of Sports and Youth Welfare, Shri Vishwas Kailash Sarang, emphasized that to strengthen the nation, we must first strengthen our body and mind. A mother is a child's first school, and their contribution makes everything possible. He congratulated and praised Kreeda Bharati for organizing this national-level honor ceremony in Bhopal. Shri Sarang said that this event not only honors mothers but also recognizes the efforts of the Madhya Pradesh government in supporting sports and athletes.

Shri Chaitanya Kumar Kashyap, National Working President of Kreeda Bharati and Minister of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, highlighted the program's objectives, stating that Kreeda Bharati is a dedicated organization for the development of sports. The youth look up to athletes as role models. Hence, the government is making vigorous efforts to bring sports to every village. Our Chief Minister, Dr. Yadav, is himself a former wrestler, and his passion for sports is well-known. The work being done by Kreeda Bharati to nurture and promote sports as a cultural value is fully supported by our government.

At the event, mothers of athletes who have brought glory to the nation at national and international sports competitions were honored with the Jijamata Award by Khel Bharati. The awardees included Smt. Gauridevi, mother of international gymnast and Khel Ratna awardee Ms. Dipa Karmakar; Smt. Usha Kumari, mother of international hockey goalkeeper Shri P.R. Sreejesh; Smt. Mamoni Devi Borgohain, mother of Olympic boxer Sushri Lovlina; Smt. Shweta Jevaria, mother of para-shooter Ms. Avani Lekhara, a gold medalist in both the Tokyo and Paris Paralympics; and Smt. Kamla Devi, mother of international hockey player Shri Vivek Sagar Prasad from Madhya Pradesh. Smt. Saroj Chopra, mother of Shri Neeraj Chopra, the gold medalist in javelin throw at the previous Olympic Games, was also honored with the Jijamata Award. In her absence, the award was received by Shri Neeraj Chopra's uncle, Shri Bhim Singh. During the program, the "Khel-Khiladi-Khel" sports anthem was launched.

Kreeda Gyan Pareeksha Puraskar also awarded

Chetanya Kashyap Foundation has been organizing a national-level online Sports Knowledge Examination annually for the past three years. In 2024, a total of 1.4 lakh participants took part in this examination. Winners of this examination are awarded annually by the foundation, with a total prize money of Rs. 5 lakh. The first prize of Rs.1 lakh, two second prizes of Rs.50,000 each, and 11 third prizes of Rs.11,000 each are distributed.

This year, the Rs. 1 lakh first prize was awarded to Shri Parth Prajapat from Indore, Malwa region. The two Rs 50,000 second prizes went to Shri Abhishek Kumar from South Bihar and Shri Dev Karelia from Saurashtra. The primary objective of this examination is to inspire youth towards sports.

At the Jijamata Award ceremony, Smt. Shweta Jevaria shared her experiences of supporting her daughter, para-shooter Sushri Avani Lekhara in achieving her goals. She emphasized the importance of teaching children to face adverse situations, never letting their morale drop, as this is essential for them to grow into successful athletes.

The event was attended by Shri Deepak Sancheti, Shri Raj Chaudhary, Shri Shailendra Srivastava, other officials of Khel Bharati, a large number of athletes, their families, and sports enthusiasts.