Bhubaneswar: In a continuous bid to promote sports and sports culture within the state, the Odisha government launched five High-Performance centres on Monday.
The launch ceremony was held at the Kalinga Stadium here and was graced by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik as the chief guest.
The day saw launch of 5 structured, high-quality, international level high-performing centres for badminton by Dalmia Bharat & Pullela Gopichand Badminton Foundation, athletics by Reliance Foundation, Athletics Federation of India and International
Association of Athletics Federation, weightlifting by KJS Ahluwalia & Tenvic Sports, football
development in the state by All India Football Fediration & Odisha sports development & promotion company and Sports Management by the XAVIER-EMLYON Business School & KJS Ahluwalia.
“Today is a historic day for sports development in Odisha as a state that’s passionate about sports, we understand how beneficial the opening of these High-Performance centres is to a sportsman as well as the nation. I am delighted to dedicate these centres to the sports-loving people of Odisha, and I thank every one of you associated with this initiative and for joining us in the journey of making Odisha- the Sports destination of India,” the Chief Minister said.
He also inaugurated the sports climbing wall to promote mountaineering, sport climbing and allied adventure activities/sports at various levels within the state.
As many as 162 outstanding sportspersons from the state, including Pramoda Bhagat, Para Badminton (Rs. 70,00,000); Jayanti Behera, Para Athletics, (Rs. 60,00,000); Prachurya Kumar Pradhan, Blind Chess, (Rs. 20,00,000) and Soundarya Kumar Pradhan, Blind Chess, (Rs. 20,00,000), were felicitated on the occasion.
Minister Sports and Youth Services Chandra Sarathi Behera, Anil Kumble,
Founder of Tenvic Sports, Pullela Gopichand, Director of Training & Coaching – Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy, Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi and Development Commissioner Asit Kumar Tripathy, Commissioner –cum Secretary Sports and Youth Services Vishal K. Dev, Director Sports and Youth Services R. Vineel Krishna were present.
