Odisha's Ambitious Sports Initiative: Stadiums in Every Block!

Strengthening Sports Infrastructure in Odisha

Keonjhar: On Thursday, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced a significant initiative to enhance sports facilities across Odisha, revealing plans to build stadiums in all 314 blocks of the state. The government has earmarked over Rs 4,000 crore for the development of various stadiums, ranging from village to district levels. Each block will feature a stadium covering approximately 8 to 10 acres, as stated by Majhi during his visit to the 39th National Sub Junior (Boys) Handball Championship in Keonjhar.

In addition to the stadiums, Majhi unveiled plans for 14 indoor swimming pools and emphasized the importance of advancing archery. He called for ongoing government support to elevate handball and train athletes for international competitions, advocating for collaborative discussions on these initiatives. The Chief Minister noted that while popular sports like cricket, hockey, and football are well-supported, the government is also promoting traditional games such as kho kho, kabaddi, and handball. He expressed a commitment to fostering sports from the grassroots level and encouraging youth participation in these efforts. Majhi mentioned that the CM Trophy sports tournaments are organized to discover and nurture emerging talents.

Earlier, Majhi welcomed the athletes with chants of ‘Jai Jagannath’ and ‘Jai Maa Tarini,’ offering his best wishes. He highlighted Keonjhar's legacy in handball, recalling that the first National Junior Handball Championship took place there in 1980. “After 45 years, we are fortunate to host a national-level event here once again,” he remarked. Majhi praised the unifying nature of sports and noted that Keonjhar's handball ground is recognized as Asia's first synthetic playground of its kind. Arriving in Keonjhar via a special helicopter, he also participated in the State-level Sanatan Dharma Sammilani and the 114 Kundiya Tridinatmaka Biswa Shanti Trishakti Mahayagna in Kalipadia.

Later, he celebrated the golden jubilee of Mangalpat Nodal High School in Birakesharpur village and attended a cricket match in Murusuan of the Sadar block. Additionally, he participated in the 37th annual function of Saraswati Vidya Mandir in Jhumpura, where he reminisced about his time as a teacher before entering politics, fondly recalling old memories and friendships.