Raipur, January 20, 2026 : The Indian Audit and Accounts Department West Zone Carrom Tournament 2025–26 was inaugurated today in Raipur under the aegis of the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. The tournament is being hosted by the Office of the Principal Accountant General, Chhattisgarh.
The opening ceremony was graced by the Chief Guest, Shri Yashwant Kumar, Principal Accountant General (A&E), Chhattisgarh, who formally inaugurated the event by lighting the ceremonial lamp.
Nine teams from the West Zone are participating in this prestigious tournament, with over 60 players competing for the title. Teams from Mumbai, Nagpur, Gwalior, Bhopal, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, and Rajasthan are taking part, along with teams from the Office of the Principal Director of Audit (Central), Mumbai, and the host office of PAG Chhattisgarh. To ensure fair play and smooth conduct of matches, Chief Referee Shri Shakeel Akhtar and his officiating team have been specially deputed from Delhi.
Speaking to the media, Shri Yashwant Kumar said that Chhattisgarh has been consistently organizing sports events for the past three years, making this the fourth consecutive year of such initiatives. He noted that last year the responsibility was handled by the Audit department and added that there are plans to host more zonal-level tournaments, including badminton, in the future. He emphasized that the core aim of these events is to strengthen coordination among officers and staff, highlighting that sports play a vital role in maintaining work-life balance and fostering team spirit and positive energy in the workplace.
During the inaugural session, the guests were introduced to the participating players and symbolically commenced the tournament by striking the striker on the carrom board. The coach and manager of the host Chhattisgarh team, along with all participants, took a pledge to uphold the values of sportsmanship, harmony, and excellence throughout the event.
The ceremony was attended by Distinguished Guest Mohammad Faizan Nayyar, Accountant General, Shri M.S. Dahariya, Senior Deputy Accountant General and President of the Recreation Club, and Smt. G. Elilarasi, Deputy Accountant General, along with officers, employees of PAG Chhattisgarh, and players from all participating zones.
