Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday called for a renewed sporting culture in the state and urged young people to draw inspiration from hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.
Majhi made the remarks at the state-level National Sports Day celebration at the Convention Centre in Lok Seva Bhawan, Bhubaneswar. He also conferred the Biju Patnaik Sports and Adventure Awards on sportspersons, coaches, journalists, technical officials and adventurers.
Paying tribute to Major Dhyan Chand on his birth anniversary, Majhi extended his greetings to the people of Odisha. He urged the state’s youth to follow Dhyan Chand’s philosophy of focusing on what one can do for the country.
Referring to the national theme, “Khelega Bharat, Jeetega Bharat”, Majhi called for adopting the resolve “Khelibo Odisha, Jitibo Odisha”. He further said the vision would help Odisha establish itself as the sporting capital of the world.
Highlighting Odisha’s sporting transformation through the “Padia ru Podium” vision, Majhi said the state had emerged as a major sporting power in India.
He said the government was committed to developing world-class sports infrastructure and training facilities for children. Ultra-modern stadiums are being constructed across 314 blocks at a cost of Rs 4,124 crore, he said.
Majhi also highlighted the world-class sports complex being developed at Gothapatna in Bhubaneswar and the Baji Rout Regional Sports Hub in Dhenkanal. Five other regional sports hubs are also being developed, he said.
The CM said the CM Trophy was being introduced to bring rural sporting talent to the forefront. He said the initiative would treat sports as a tool for social change rather than merely as a competition.
Under the initiative, sports equipment is being distributed to youth in 485 villages across 10 Maoist-affected districts.
Majhi also announced that Odisha would become the first state in India to host the 2028 Asian and World Athletics Indoor Championships.
During the ceremony, Soumya Ranjan Behera of Nayagarh district received the Biju Patnaik Adventure Award. Posthumous Biju Patnaik Adventure Awards were conferred on the late Nilamadhab Panda and Sunil Kumar Rai of Jajpur district.
The Biju Patnaik Sports Awards were presented in several categories.
Pranati Mishra received the award for lifetime dedication to sports, while Shakti Prasad Nanda was recognised for excellence in sports journalism.
Loma Swain was honoured for outstanding sporting performance, while Gopal Krishna Das received the award for best coach.
Suchitra Parida was recognised as the best para-athlete, while Prateek Maharana and Payal Nag received the awards for best emerging athletes.
Prabodh Kumar Mohanty was honoured as the best technical officer. Samaleswari Sporting Club of Sambalpur received the award for best sports promotion organisation. Club President and Sambalpur MLA Jayanarayan Mishra accepted the award.
Sports and Youth Services Minister Suryabanshi Suraj also paid tribute to Major Dhyan Chand. He said discipline, dedication, and skill were essential to turning an ordinary player into a great athlete.
Suraj urged athletes to draw inspiration from Dhyan Chand’s commitment to the sport. He also advised children to reduce screen time and spend more time participating in sports.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg highlighted the achievement of para-archer Payal Nag of Balangir district. She noted that Nag had won a gold medal despite not having hands and described her achievement as an inspiration to all.
Garg said physical fitness was equally important for building a prosperous Odisha. She added that the state government’s Fit Odisha Mission would be strengthened from the gram panchayat to the municipality level.
Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Sports and Youth Services Department, Bhupendra Singh Poonia, delivered the welcome address. Department director Dr Yedula Vijay proposed the vote of thanks.
