Bihar Gears Up for Mashaal-2024 Talent Hunt, High-Level Meeting at Patliputra Sports Complex to Ensures Smooth Execution

Patna – In a decisive move to ensure the successful execution of India’s largest sports talent hunt, Mashaal-2024, a high-level coordination meeting was held today at Patliputra Sports Complex under the joint aegis of the Department of Sports, Department of Education, and Bihar State Sports Authority. The meeting was chaired by Dr. B. Rajender, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Sports.

Also present were Ajay Yadav, Secretary, Department of Education, Ravindran Shankaran, Director General and CEO of Bihar State Sports Authority, and Mahendra Kumar, Director of the Sports Department. District Education Officers (DEOs) and District Programme Officers (DPOs) from all districts participated via video conferencing.

It was unanimously resolved that the school-level phase of the Mashaal competition will be conducted from April 25 to April 27, 2025. To facilitate full participation of students without academic conflict, the quarterly examinations will now commence only after April 27. The next level of the competition, at the Complex Resource Centre, will begin from May 19, 2025, with each school expected to field 77 student-athletes.

The initiative, touted as a game-changer for Bihar’s sports ecosystem, is designed to groom young athletes for national and international platforms.

Clarity was also provided on the issue of school transfers for student-athletes, particularly for classes 8 and 10. The options to ‘Add’ or ‘Delete’ players in the portal will be made available to schools to ensure accurate data recording. A mandatory battery test at the school level will be conducted, with the data to be uploaded on the portal.

As per current figures, a staggering 15,62,405 players have registered, with 3,94,257 battery test entries successfully uploaded. The statistics underline the scale and seriousness of the exercise.

A detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has already been circulated to all stakeholders. To elevate the prestige of the event, schools have been instructed to invite local dignitaries and elected representatives as chief guests. Additionally, parents of participating students are to be encouraged to attend, fostering a sense of community and motivation among young athletes.

To streamline information flow and address technical concerns, two official communication groups—MASHAAL 2024 – DEO Group and MASHAAL 2024 – DPO SSA Group—will serve as primary platforms. The dedicated Mashaal web portal will go live on April 20, 2025 at 11:00 AM, enabling officers and participants to access necessary data and updates.

In his concluding remarks, Dr. Rajender emphasized the need for full participation of all schools across Bihar. DEOs and DPOs have been tasked with ensuring compliance at the grassroots. “This isn’t just a competition,” he said, “it’s a mission to discover Bihar’s sporting gems and help them shine on national and global stages.”

Officials and educators have been urged to commit themselves wholeheartedly to this landmark initiative, which is poised to redefine the landscape of youth sports in the state.