From Meditation to Medal: Rajgir's Journey to Becoming a New Sports Destination

Growing up in Bihar, I often heard the saying:

“Kheloge dhoopoge to hoge kharab, aur padhoge likhoge to banoge Nabab.”

As a budding cricketer in Patna, I faced scepticism from my family, who believed that pursuing sports was a path to nowhere. Eventually, I gave in and shifted my focus to academics. Yet, my love for sport remained alive, shaping a professional journey in sports journalism and broadcasting that now spans more than 25 years.

Despite the challenges, I always believed Bihar had untapped sporting potential. I remember proposing a school cricket initiative to the then Sports Minister over a decade ago. Instead of backing the idea, she asked if I could help her son enter sports broadcasting. That moment summed up the state's apathy towards sport.

But times have changed. Bihar is now telling a very different story—one of revival, ambition, and world-class infrastructure. At the heart of this transformation stands the Rajgir Sports Complex (RSC), a project that symbolises not just investment but intent.

Rajgir Sports Complex: Bihar’s Sporting Lighthouse

Spread over 97 acres with an investment of more than ₹750 crore, the RSC is a state-of-the-art facility offering 24 sports disciplines—from hockey, athletics, and football to archery, boxing, cycling, and wushu.

It also houses Bihar’s first Sports University, where science, psychology, nutrition, and coaching are part of a structured curriculum—creating a pathway for both athletes and professionals.

Ironically, a posting at the Bihar State Sports Authority (BSSA) was once seen as a "punishment posting." That was until a 1995-batch IPS officer Raveendran Sankaran took charge in 2022. Rather than treating it as a bureaucratic burden, he turned it into a mission.

“When I assumed my role as DG of BSSA, the Chief Minister gave me a target—by 2028, Bihar must contribute one or two athletes to the Indian Olympic team,” Sankaran recalls. “We are already ahead of schedule, with Shreyasi Singh in shooting and Shailesh Kumar in the Paralympics.”

Inspired by the book The Talent Lab, Sankaran focused on scouting medal-potential sports, bringing in top coaches, and building athlete pathways.

“I want to fulfil my dream through the children of Bihar. It’s a selfish motive,” he says with a smile.

Sankaran, an athlete himself, had once dreamt of participating in the Olympics but saw his career cut short by an accident. His current mission is to give young Biharis the chance he never had.

For him, this is about more than just infrastructure. It is about building an ecosystem that Bihar has lacked for decades.

Reviving Bihar’s Sporting Legacy

Rajgir is not just a location—it is a symbol.

Just 20 kilometres away lies Jarasandh ka Akhada, a site tied to the warriors of the Mahabharata. The land is equally sacred in Buddhism and academia, being home to Nalanda, once the world’s greatest university.

“Few people know that India’s Olympic movement started from Bihar,” Sankaran points out. “The Indian Olympic Association was initiated and established in Patna, with its first Secretary General and President hailing from here. We are simply reviving history.”

Centuries ago, scholars from across Asia flocked to Nalanda to learn. Today, alongside its reborn university, Rajgir now hosts another academy of excellence—the Bihar Sports University—drawing athletes from across the country.

A City Buzzing with Sport

The RSC has already hosted international competitions that would have been unimaginable in Bihar just a few years ago:

• In August 2025, the Emirates U20 Rugby Championship brought international rugby to Rajgir for the first time, drawing passionate crowds.
• Days later, the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy in hockey saw packed stands.
• By the end of the month, Rajgir hosted the Men’s Asia Cup Hockey, again with near-capacity crowds despite the sweltering heat.

Despite harsh weather, fans skipped work, travelled hours, and filled stadiums—proof of how hungry the state is for world-class sport.

Manish, a government employee from Rajgir, admitted:

“Watching such big events in my hometown is something I couldn’t miss. I had to take a leave to watch this match.”

For students from Bangladesh studying at Nalanda University, watching their national team play in Rajgir was special.

Local sports fan Ravish Jha summed it up:

“Earlier, to see international stars, we had to go to Delhi or Mumbai. Now the excitement is the same here in Rajgir.”

Much like Odisha branded itself through hockey, Bihar is positioning Rajgir as its sporting capital.

Beyond Sport: Tourism and Economy

Rajgir’s transformation is not limited to athletes—it is becoming an economic and tourism hub.

The Bihar government has approved the construction of two five-star hotels under PPP models to cater to international visitors. Local guest houses and eateries are also benefiting, as visiting teams, officials, and fans generate steady business.

The upcoming Rajgir International Cricket Stadium, with a 45,000-seat capacity, will be the jewel in the crown.

“We expect completion by mid-2026. Once the BCCI inspects and approves, international cricket can finally return to Bihar,” Sankaran confirms.

The RSC is also set to house four more AstroTurfs across the state:

• Two in Patna
• One in Purnia
• One in Rajgir

The first batch of athletes to train here will be from the Ekalavya Residential Sports Schools, who will move into the new facilities very soon.

Studies worldwide show that nations deeply invested in sport and the arts tend to have lower youth crime rates. Rajgir’s investment, then, is not just in medals—it is in building a healthier, more engaged generation.

All of this will inspire athletes, generate employment, boost tourism, and give Bihar a rightful place on the global sporting map.

The Spirit of Rajgir

The RSC is more than just concrete and turf; it is a symbol of aspiration.

Hosting events like the Asia Cup and Rugby Championship is only the beginning. The true story unfolds in the determination of young athletes training day and night, chasing their dream of standing on the podium.

Sankaran puts it in perspective:

“It’s not going to be easy, but it will be interesting. We are building not just athletes, but a culture. Bihar will no longer be seen as a sporting backbencher.”

For me, someone who once gave up cricket under family pressure, this is a personal vindication. A state that once dismissed sport as a distraction is now betting big on it.

From the akhadas of Jarasandh to the Astroturfs of Rajgir, from the wisdom of Nalanda to the ambition of its Sports University, Bihar is writing a new chapter.

The Smiling Buddha with a rugby ball, a hockey stick, and soon a cricket bat—Rajgir is ready.