The landscape of school sports is undergoing a transformation impacting student athletes from CBSE schools across the nation, including Chhattisgarh. Following the School Games Federation of India’s (SGFI) recognition of CBSE as an independent sports entity, changes are being implemented regarding participation in sports events.
The core change is that CBSE students will no longer be eligible to participate in state-level school sports competitions organized by state governments. This includes the block, district, divisional, and state-level games.
This shift will be enforced starting from the academic session 2025-26. Consequently, students from CBSE-affiliated schools will only have the opportunity to compete in national competitions conducted by SGFI.
This transition could potentially reduce the chances for athletes to demonstrate their abilities, as the number of national-level platforms offered by SGFI is limited. This will affect numerous students throughout the state, including those from Bilaspur, who have demonstrated success at the district and divisional levels.
The SGFI previously acknowledged CBSE as an independent unit during the 68th National Competition in the 2024-25 session. Initially, because CBSE did not yet have a comprehensive independent sports structure, the state government permitted CBSE students to compete in state-level events as a temporary solution.
With CBSE now having established its independent sports structure, the Chhattisgarh School Education Department, acting in line with SGFI’s directions, has withdrawn CBSE students from state-level events.
The SGFI website confirms that CBSE board students have been participating independently and winning medals in national competitions. Therefore, they no longer meet the eligibility criteria for state-level competitions.
This adjustment essentially removes a key avenue for students to reach the state level, which may pose hurdles for their athletic development and their ability to showcase their talents at a national level. Coaches and parents are worried that this could limit the progress of many skilled athletes.
This decision has prompted a range of reactions within the sports community of Chhattisgarh, and all eyes are now on CBSE’s plans to reinforce its independent sports framework, ensuring students are well-equipped to contend at the national level.