Sports and Youth Affairs forms the major sector of the Department of Art, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs of the Government of Jharkhand. In the sky of Sports, Jharkhand is again emerging as a shining star. In Hockey and Archery etc. Jharkhand is known around the world. None of the Indian Hockey team are complete without a few players from Jharkhand. Late Jaipal Singh, who was the playing captain of the Indian Hockey team during Amsterdum (Holland) Olympics in 1928 and who won the gold, was a man from Jharkhand. Even today Indian Hockey team - both men and women – consists of many players from Jharkhand.

To further encourage our players several Stadiums and Sports infrastructure are being developed throughout the state. Foundation stone has been laid on for mega Sports Complex of international standards at Sukurhutu near Ranchi where National/International sports event will be organized. Already existing stadiums are being remodeled and modernized at Ranchi, Gumla, etc. New stadiums have also been constructed at Khunti, Latehar etc. Further, new stadium have been proposed in all the district headquarters and funds have already been released for some of the stadiums.

Sports training is also being taken care of. Already existing six Sports Training Centers in Ranchi, Gumla and Latehar districts have been strengthened. New Sports Training Centers are coming up at Dumka, Hazaribagh etc. Very soon all the district headquarters will be equipped with at least one Sports Training Centre each.

To encourage sports activities in the state, Player Welfare Fund has been established for the players living in destitute conditions. Grants-in aid are being provided to sports bodies. States sports awards and cash prizes are being conferred on the players who bring laurels to the state in form of medals in national/international sports events. National Sports events are being organized in the state. Recently National Wrestling Competition was sponsored by the government. National Games are proposed to be held in Jharkhand in 2007. The preparations are in full swing for this important event.

Important Stadiums

Sports Training Centers

Major Activities:::
Apart from increasing and strengthening sports infrastructure through out the state, annually the following major events are being organised in the state.

School Games:::
Throughout the state school sports competitions are organised and a state school sports team is formed to represent the state in National School Games.

Rural Sports:::
Rural Sports is also organised throughout the state at block, district and division level. And finally at the state level, a state term is formed which, naturally, represents the state in the National Rural Games.
 

Women's Sports:::
Women's sports is also an annual feature which is organised at block, district and state levels. Accordingly, the state level team is sent to participate in National Women's Game.

Talent Search:::
Several sports competition are organised regularly throughout the State to hunt the sports talents, specially from rural areas and proper arrangements are made to impart them proper training. Proper facilities are also provided to them to enable them to improve upon their talents.

Miscellaneous:::
Apart from other activities sports awards are conferred on talented sports persons annually to encourage them. Sports organizations are sanctioned grants-in-aid. Sports Welfare Fund has been created for the welfare of sports persons living in destitute conditions. Besides, many other such welfare schemes also are being run by the Department.

Future Plans in the field of Sports are as follows-