Bhubaneswar: In order to promote sports at grassroot level, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday launched infrastructure projects worth Rs 660 crore.
The projects include 48 multipurpose indoor stadiums, Cuttack Table Tennis Academy, Rourkela Gymnastics Academy and 12 hockey training centres. He also laid the foundation stone for 11 sports projects. These projects have been taken up under 5T initiative to ensure transformation of the sports sector, from grassroots to elite.
The multipurpose indoor stadiums will have courts, rooms and facilities for badminton, table tennis, yoga, chess and weightlifting, gym. In addition, an upgraded multipurpose indoor hall in Bhawanipatna has also been inaugurated.
The Cuttack Table Tennis Academy features 16 premium-quality TT tables, a fully-equipped gymnasium and a dedicated weightlifting room. The facility also has a designated area for chess enthusiasts and space for yoga and zumba.
Rourkela Gymnastics Academy, a new addition to the gymnastics ecosystem, features international standard equipment and houses facilities for weightlifting, table tennis, yoga and gym.
In order to strengthen the hockey infrastructure and give young children an early start to competitive environment, the Chief Minister inaugurated 12 hockey training centres (HTCs). These centres will impart professional coaching by expert coaches. With this, the state now has 23 HTCs (Sundargarh-17, Sambalpur-2, Jajpur-1, Cuttack-1, Ganjam-1, and Bhubaneswar-1).
Naveen also laid foundation stone for 11 sports infrastructure that include 4 multipurpose indoor stadiums in Remuna, Baliguda, Titlagarh and Karanjia; indoor swimming pool in Bhadrak;, Football Training Centre, indoor swimming pool and basketball courts in Cuttack; Women Football Training Centre in Aul, Kendrapada and Hockey Training Centre in Deogarh; upgradation of Baripada stadium and Nehru Stadium in Bhadrak.
Speaking at the launching function organised at Indoor Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Naveen said, “We want to provide the best sports facilities to our young sports persons so that they can realise their potential and bring laurels to Odisha and India. I hope that the facilities launched today will provide a big momentum to the sports development in the state.”
Chairman 5T and Nabin Odisha VK Pandian interacted with sports persons and assured them all support for their endeavour.
Minister of Science and Technology, SSEPD Ashok Panda, Minister of Sports and Youth services Tushrakanti Behera, Bhubaneswar mayor Sulochana Das, Development Commissioner Anu Garg, Sports and Youth Services secretary Vineel Krishna and other officials and sportspersons were present.
