Bhubaneswar: Bihar Sports Minister Shreyasi Singh wrapped up a four-day visit to Odisha on Sunday, proposing player exchange programmes and friendly matches between the two states.
She announced this during a meeting with Odisha Sports and Youth Services Minister Suryabanshi Suraj at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
Singh said Bihar wants to make full use of sporting facilities in both states through exchange programmes. The minister praised Odisha’s sports infrastructure and High-Performance Centres, calling them world-class.
She added that Bihar is also expanding its own sports infrastructure rapidly. According to her, Bihar is developing facilities for volleyball, basketball, cricket practice pitches and football in every Gram Panchayat.
Suraj said Odisha is scouting fresh sporting talent from the grassroots through initiatives like the CM Trophy. He said schools, sports institutions and government departments need strong coordination to build a sports ecosystem for rural athletes.
Bhupendra Singh Poonia, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Odisha’s Sports and Youth Services Department, also attended the meeting. He explained the state’s working model to the visiting delegation. He stressed the need to bring sports science into the curriculum to tackle coaching and training gaps and secure athletes’ futures.
Singh, in turn, called for awareness programmes on injury prevention, nutrition and rest for athletes.
Suraj welcomed the expansion of the Centre’s Khelo India centres. Referring to the Chintan Shivir held in Jammu and Kashmir, he proposed similar brainstorming sessions at the state and district level. He said state-level competitions ahead of national events help sharpen athletes’ performance.
Before the visit ended, Suraj introduced the Bihar delegation to Odisha’s culture and cuisine.
Singh thanked the state government for its hospitality. She said her visit to the Jagannath Temple in Puri, along with Bhubaneswar’s greenery and cleanliness, left a lasting impression on her. She described Odisha’s sports model as an inspiration for the rest of the country.
