Raveendran Sankaran Interview | We will ensure that more athletes from Bihar get into the Indian team in the 2028 Olympics Premium

Bihar's sports revolution under State Government's comprehensive approach, grooming elite athletes, developing infrastructure, and supporting talent.

Silently, Bihar is taking rapid strides in sports. Because of the State Government’s comprehensive approach, from grooming youngsters to developing infrastructure for the masses to supporting elite athletes in the last two years, results have started coming in.

Bihar has strategically spotted disciplines which would produce international athletes and bring laurels to the country in multi-sport events.

In all this, the Bihar State Sports Authority (BSSA) has been playing a crucial role.

The Hindu spoke to the BSSA director general, Raveendran Sankaran, a senior IPS officer, to know more about the efforts being made by the State to make an impact. Excerpts:

When I joined as the DG of the BSSA, the Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, gave me the mandate that by 2028 (we must) ensure that one or two athletes from Bihar are part of the Indian contingent in the Olympics.

But it was possible in 2024 itself. One was in trap shooting, Shreyasi Singh, and the second was in Paralympics, Shailesh Kumar (high jump, T63). He missed the bronze medal by one centimetre.

We won’t stop here. We will ensure that more athletes from Bihar get into the Indian team in the 2028 Olympics. We will aim for a medal in 2032 and 2036.