Bhubaneswar: The state govt is planning a major push to develop grassroots sports infrastructure, with modern stadiums to be built across all 314 blocks at an estimated cost of Rs 4,124 crore, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi said on National Sports Day on Saturday.Speaking at the state-level National Sports Day celebration here, Majhi said the govt aimed to transform Odisha from the “playfield to the podium” and establish it as a global sporting hub. “Under the mantra ‘Khelega Odisha, Jeetega Odisha’, we will continue our efforts to make Odisha the sports capital of the world,” he said. A world-class sports complex is being developed at Gothapatna in Bhubaneswar, while the Baji Rout Regional Sports Hub is coming up in Dhenkanal along with five other regional sports hubs, he said.Majhi said the CM Trophy was being organised to identify and showcase sporting talent from rural areas. Sports equipment is also being distributed among youngsters in 485 villages across 10 Maoist-affected districts to encourage greater participation in sports.He also highlighted Odisha’s selection to host the 2028 Asian and World Athletics Indoor Championships, describing it as a historic achievement for the state and the country. The event also saw the presentation of the 2025 Biju Patnaik Sports and Adventure Awards to sportspersons, coaches, sports officials and others for their contributions to the field.Soumyaranjan Behera of Nayagarh received the Biju Patnaik Adventure Award, while posthumous awards were conferred on late Nilamadhab Panda and Sunil Kumar Ray of Jajpur.Pranati Mishra was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to sports and promotion of sportspersons, while Shakti Prasad Nanda received the award for excellence in sports journalism.Loma Swain was recognised for outstanding performance in sports, Gopal Krishna Das was named Best Coach and Suchitra Parida Best Para-Sportsperson. Prateek Maharana and Payal Nag were honoured as Best Emerging Sportspersons, while Prabodha Kumar Mahanty received the Best Technical Official award.Sambalpur’s Samaleswari Sporting Club was adjudged the Best Sports Promotion Organisation. Its president and Sambalpur MLA Jayanarayan Mishra received the award on behalf of the club.Sports and youth services minister Suryabanshi Suraj, paying tribute to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, said talent alone was not enough to achieve excellence and that dedication and discipline were equally important. Urging children to make sports part of their daily routine, he called for reducing screen time and increasing time spent on sporting activities.Chief secretary Anu Garg praised Balangir para-archer Payal Nag, saying her achievements despite being born without hands were an inspiration. She said physical fitness would play an important role in building a prosperous Odisha and that the government’s Fit Odisha Mission would promote fitness from gram panchayats to municipalities.
