Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who attended the National Sports Day programme as the chief guest, presented the Biju Patnaik Sports and Adventure Awards 2025 and encouraged the state’s youth to make sports an integral part of their daily lives.

Paying tribute to legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand, Majhi highlighted the importance of contributing to the nation through one’s actions and achievements. He urged young people across Odisha to embrace this spirit and contribute to the state’s sporting growth. Referring to the national sporting message “Khelega India, Jitega India,” he announced Odisha’s own sporting vision — “Kheliba Odisha, Jitiba Odisha” — and reaffirmed the government’s goal of establishing Odisha as a global sports destination.

Odisha’s ‘Playground to Podium’ Vision

Majhi described Odisha’s sporting development as a journey “from playground to podium.” He said the state has emerged as a major sporting powerhouse and is continuing to invest in infrastructure, training and grassroots development.

To provide children and young athletes with access to modern facilities and professional coaching, the government is developing modern stadiums across all 314 blocks with an investment of ₹4,124 crore. Other major projects include a world-class sports complex at Gothapatna in Bhubaneswar, the Baji Rout Regional Sports Hub in Dhenkanal, along with five additional regional sports hubs.

The CM Trophy is also being expanded to identify and encourage sporting talent from rural areas. In another initiative aimed at using sport as a tool for social development, sporting kits have been distributed to young people in 485 villages across 10 Maoist-affected districts.

Odisha has also secured the opportunity to host the 2028 Asian and World Athletics Indoor Championships, marking a significant milestone for the state and Indian athletics.

Biju Patnaik Sports and Adventure Awards 2025

The Chief Minister presented the Biju Patnaik Adventure Award to Soumyaranjan Behera of Nayagarh. Posthumous adventure awards were conferred on Nilamadhab Panda and Sunil Kumar Ray of Jajpur.

Other award recipients included:

• Lifetime Achievement: Pranati Mishra
• Excellence in Sports Journalism: Shakti Prakash Nanda
• Outstanding Performance in Sport: Loma Swain
• Best Coach: Gopal Krishna Dash
• Best Para-Athlete: Suchitra Parida
• Best Emerging Athletes: Pratik Maharana and Payal Nag
• Best Technical Official: Prabodh Kumar Mohanty
• Best Sports Promotion Organisation: Samaleswari Sporting Club, Sambalpur

The sports promotion award was received by the club president and Sambalpur MLA Jayanarayan Mishra.

Focus on Discipline, Fitness and Inclusion

Sports and Youth Services Minister Suryabanshi Suraj stressed that talent alone is not enough to achieve sporting excellence. He highlighted the importance of dedication, discipline and consistent effort, encouraging children to reduce screen time and spend more time participating in sports and physical activities.

Chief Secretary Anu Garg praised para-archer Payal Nag of Balangir, highlighting her remarkable achievements and describing her as an inspiration to others. She also emphasised the importance of physical fitness in building a healthier and more prosperous Odisha and said the Fit Odisha Mission would be expanded from gram panchayats to municipalities.

The programme featured participation from senior government officials and sports administrators, with Sports and Youth Services Commissioner-cum-Secretary Bhupendra Singh Poonia delivering the welcome address and Director Dr. Yedula Vijay presenting the vote of thanks.