The state of Bihar has been recognised as the best-performing state in India for the promotion of sports, receiving the prestigious Sportstar Best State Award at a glittering ceremony held at the iconic Hotel Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai. The award was jointly received by Shreyasi Singh, Minister of Sports and Information Technology, Government of Bihar, and Ravindran Shankaran of the Bihar State Sports Authority (BSSA).

The recognition reflects the state government's concerted efforts to build a robust sporting ecosystem, from grassroots talent development to elite athlete support across Bihar's diverse districts.

Minister Singh is herself a celebrated sporting icon - an accomplished competitive trap shooter, she is an Olympian, a Commonwealth Games medallist, and a recipient of the Arjuna Award, one of India's highest honours in sport conferred by the Government of India. Her appointment as Sports Minister has been widely seen as a transformative step in Bihar's approach to sports governance.

The ceremony brought together all top stakeholders from the world of Indian sports, underlining the national significance of Bihar's achievements in this sphere.

The state has in recent years invested substantially in sporting infrastructure, athlete welfare programmes, and the identification of talent at the district and block levels.

Sportstar, published by The Hindu Group, is one of India's most respected sports publications, and its annual awards are widely regarded as a benchmark of excellence in Indian sport.