Sambalpur: Keeping the 2036 Olympic Games in mind, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday called for early groundwork to nurture sporting talent from Sambalpur district and across the state to win medals on the global stage.Addressing participants after inaugurating the ‘MCL Hirakud International Half Marathon–2026’ at Hirakud dam, Sambalpur MP Pradhan said the event is not merely a race but a collective resolve to build a healthier and stronger India.
Held atop the dam amid the scenic backdrop of the Mahanadi river, the event witnessed participation of more than 10,000 athletes and youth from India and abroad. The competition was divided into four categories — 21 km, 10 km, 5 km and 1.5 km — attracting professional runners as well as fitness enthusiasts.Runners from across Odisha, several Indian states and Union Territories as well as from Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Zambia, Congo, Yemen and Syria participated. Athletes from Ethiopia and Nigeria were among those who finished well and were felicitated by the Union minister.Pradhan said, “Such initiatives would continue in the coming years to strengthen the region’s sporting ecosystem.”He said that the half-marathon reflects the spirit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Fit India Movement’, observing that when a young person runs, society runs forward and the nation progresses. “Running is essential not only for physical fitness but also for cultivating true sportsmanship,” he said.
