Bhubaneswar: Sportsmanship and brotherhood are the foundation of a healthy society, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said on Saturday, emphasising the role of sports in fostering unity, harmony and mutual understanding.
Majhi made the remarks while attending the 16th Tata Steel Friendship Cup Football Tournament 2026 at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. The friendly tournament brought together teams representing elected representatives, administrative officials, the media and Tata Steel.
“More important than winning or losing on the field is the sporting spirit,” the Chief Minister said, adding that sporting activities help establish greater coordination among people. He also appreciated the enthusiasm and participation of all teams in the friendly competition.
The Chief Minister praised Tata Steel for its social responsibility initiatives and thanked the company for organising the friendship tournament every year.
Media 11 emerged champions in the tournament, while Officers 11 finished runners-up.
The event also featured the felicitation of 10 hockey players from Odisha who represented India’s men’s and women’s teams in the Junior Asia Cup Hockey 2026 held in China. The Indian men’s and women’s teams emerged champions in the tournament.
Seven male and three female players from Odisha were felicitated by Majhi, with each player receiving a cash award of Rs 1.25 lakh.
The ceremony was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Ravi Narayan Naik, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Mukesh Mahaling, Industries, Skill Development and Technical Education Minister Sampad Chandra Swain, and Higher Education, Sports and Youth Services Minister Suryabanshi Suraj.
Ruling party Chief Whip Saroj Kumar Pradhan, Tata Steel Vice-President (Corporate Services) D.B. Sundar Ramam, legislators and media representatives were also present
