Revival of Sport: Begusarai's Transformation Impresses Former Players at Khelo India Games

Till yesterday, there used to be many obstacles like socio-economic, cultural and gender bias in the way of adopting sports as a career for the youth and children of Bihar, but today the picture seems to have changed. There is tremendous enthusiasm not only among the youth and children of Begusarai but also among the senior citizens regarding Khelo India Youth Games-2025. And why not! There is a lot of noise and enthusiasm for football here in Khelo India Youth Games.

All the football matches in Khelo India Youth Games are being played in two stadiums of Begusarai, Yamuna Bhagat Stadium at Barauni Khelgaon and Barauni Refinery Township Stadium. Here the Jharkhand girls team is celebrating their victory by defeating the girls of Tamil Nadu 2-1. Here we meet the head coach of Jharkhand girls team, Bina Karketa.

Bina was giving tips to her players regarding the preparation of the next match. When she was asked how did you like the venue of Begusarai. Bina says that when Bihar and Jharkhand were one, I have played many matches in my football career at Jamuna Bhagat Stadium in Begusarai. But today the look of the stadium has completely changed. I cannot believe that this is the same Begusarai, where there used to be a severe lack of basic facilities for the players. I have represented the women's football team of Bihar for many consecutive years. Today I am overwhelmed to see the Jamuna Bhagat Stadium and the facilities available for the players here. She said, then our government used to take the game as a game. But today the glory of the game has returned here once again. If this trend continues, the day is not far when football players like Mewalal, C Prasad and Lalan Dubey from Bihar will once again be seen shining like stars not only on the national level but also on the international level.

When children will get such sports facilities in their village and city, their talent will automatically shine and come in front of the world. This is where we meet Kala Venkat Swamy, coach of Tamil Nadu girls football team. However, she looks a little sad due to the 2-1 defeat at the hands of Jharkhand. But when she is asked about the hospitality of Begusarai and the sports facilities available here, her eyes light up and she says - Excellent. All the basic facilities for football are available here. For this, she thanks the Bihar government and especially Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and says, we have found Bihar much better than what we had heard and read about it. I have come to Bihar for the first time. Now I would like to come to Bihar again and again. I also want to see the historical heritage of Bihar.

Football matches are being played in Barauni Refinery Township Stadium along with Yamuna Bhagat Stadium located in Barauni Khelgaon of Begusarai. From 5 to 14 May, teams of girls from eight states and boys from eight states are on the field here in two shifts in the morning and evening. Pankaj Kumar Singh, who is enjoying football with his seven-year-old daughter in a corner of the stadium, says that now the atmosphere of sports has started to be created in Begusarai. Both the stadiums here are crowded with young and child players in the morning and evening. I have also brought my daughter to watch a football match to inculcate interest in sports in her. If she is interested in sports, I would like to see her as a successful player. Because our government is now standing behind the players like a guardian. Just like studies, children now have the option of making sports their career. Jobs have also been arranged for them on winning medals.

It is said that sports is not just a competition of win or loss. It runs in the blood of players as a sanskar. When basic facilities are available for players, parents start looking for champions in their children. And then begins the process of champions being born from the soil of the village.

The sports history of Bihar is a witness that our soil itself gave birth to Mewalal and former captain of the Indian football team and Arjun Awardee C Prasad. Today, at just 14 years of age, a teenager like Vaibhav Suryavanshi is in front of the world with his talent, courage and the never-say-die attitude in the field of the world's most professional cricket league like IPL.