Raipur hosts Nava Raipur Open golf with Kapil Dev as first Khelo India Tribal Games open in Chhattisgarh
Raipur stepped into the national spotlight this week as Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and PGTI President Kapil Dev jointly inaugurated the Nava Raipur Open 2026 golf tournament, and Chhattisgarh hosted the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games. IHCL signed a 111-key Ginger hotel for Nava Raipur, while the state capital also witnessed a sharp political exchange between former CM Bhupesh Baghel and Deputy CM Vijay Sharma over PM Awas Yojana housing figures.
🎉 CM Vishnu Deo Sai and Kapil Dev inaugurate Nava Raipur Open 2026 golf
ANI reported that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Professional Golf Tour of India President Kapil Dev jointly inaugurated the Nava Raipur Open 2026 at a ceremony in Nava Raipur. The two dignitaries unveiled the tournament's trophy alongside professional golfers Amandeep Johl and Viraj Madappa, formally marking the start of the PGTI event in the state capital. The Nava Raipur Open is a significant fixture on the Indian professional golf circuit, and the involvement of both CM Sai and Kapil Dev — India's celebrated 1983 Cricket World Cup-winning captain — underscored the state government's determination to position Chhattisgarh as a destination for premium sporting events. Nava Raipur, the newly developed administrative capital of Chhattisgarh, has been central to the government's efforts to attract major sporting and investment events as part of its smart city ambitions. The PGTI event brings together India's leading professional golfers and provides a platform for emerging talent from the region. The ANI report signalled national-level media attention for Chhattisgarh's sports promotion strategy, which extends beyond cricket to include golf, athletics and tribal sports. The inauguration drew participation from state officials and corporate sponsors supporting the growth of golf in central India. [1]
🗳️ Baghel and Deputy CM Sharma trade barbs over PM Awas housing figures at Raipur Press Club
ETV Bharat reported that former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and current Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma engaged in a heated public exchange over the implementation and figures of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana housing scheme at the Raipur Press Club. The confrontation, covered by ETV Bharat journalist Praveen Kumar Singh, involved the two leaders trading sharp accusations over the central government's flagship housing programme for the rural and urban poor. Baghel challenged the BJP-led state government's reported figures for homes built or sanctioned under PM Awas in Chhattisgarh, while Deputy CM Sharma defended his government's record on housing delivery. ETV Bharat characterized the exchange as reflecting the continuing rivalry between the incumbent BJP administration and the opposition Congress over the state's performance on social welfare schemes. PM Awas Yojana remains politically sensitive in Chhattisgarh, as both parties have made affordable housing a central campaign commitment, and discrepancies in official beneficiary data have repeatedly become flashpoints. The Raipur Press Club setting gave the exchange a public and media-facing character, amplifying its visibility. The confrontation illustrated the active opposition dynamics in the state capital ahead of future electoral cycles. [6]
🎉 First Khelo India Tribal Games open in Chhattisgarh
News on AIR, the government radio broadcaster, reported the commencement of the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games in Chhattisgarh. The launch of the first-ever tribal edition under the Khelo India umbrella represented a historic moment for indigenous sports culture in India, with Chhattisgarh — a state with one of the country's largest Scheduled Tribe populations — selected as the inaugural host. The Khelo India initiative, originally focused on school and youth games, has been broadened to encompass tribal communities and their distinctive sporting traditions, reflecting the central government's effort to recognize and invest in indigenous athletic talent. The games were expected to feature a range of traditional and contemporary disciplines, with tribal athletes from Chhattisgarh and other states competing for recognition and prizes. Hosting the inaugural edition positions Chhattisgarh as a national champion of tribal sports promotion and builds on the state's existing profile as a cultural hub for its Adivasi communities. The event was anticipated to create pathways for talented tribal athletes who might otherwise lack exposure to mainstream competitive platforms. News on AIR's coverage indicated that the games carried significance as a central government initiative to mainstream tribal sports nationally. [7]
🏢 IHCL signs 111-key Ginger hotel in Nava Raipur with ECHT Ventures
The Indian Hotels Company Limited announced the signing of a Ginger hotel in Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh, through a partnership with local developer ECHT Ventures. The 111-key brownfield project will feature Qmin, Ginger's signature all-day dining concept, meeting room facilities and a fitness centre, catering to both business and leisure travellers. IHCL Executive Vice President for Real Estate and Development Suma Venkatesh said that Nava Raipur is establishing itself as a key micro-market supported by planned urban development and sustained hospitality demand. ECHT Ventures directors Vishal Kankaria and Raja Kankaria described the IHCL partnership as an important milestone, noting Ginger's national brand strength. ECHT Ventures is a conglomerate with diversified interests spanning premium real estate, experiential hospitality and marine infrastructure, with waterfronts and theme parks across Raipur, Guwahati, Coimbatore and Alibaug. Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh's administrative capital and a designated smart city, is being developed as a blueprint for India's urban future, with ambitions in technology and sustainable growth. With this signing, IHCL will have four hotels in Chhattisgarh, including three under development, extending the Tata-owned hospitality company's presence in central India and reinforcing the branded hotel sector's confidence in the state's growing economy. [10]
Sources: [1] ANI News · [6] ETV Bharat · [7] News On AIR · [10] The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL)