Bhubaneswar: Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated a cycling velodrome at the KIIT-KISS campus here on Wednesday.
The velodrome has been named after Minati Mohapatra, Odisha’s first Arjuna Awardee in cycling.
“Today is an important day for me… what I witnessed aligns with the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi – a nation where education and sports go hand in hand,” Mandaviya stated.
Quoting Acharya Chanakya, the minister emphasised the importance of education in shaping a nation’s future.
“I am satisfied that the country’s future is in the capable hands of educationists like Dr (Achyuta) Samanta. KIIT, KISS and KIMS are nurturing students who will grow into responsible citizens. Wherever I go, I will share the best practices I observed here,” added Mandaviya added.
Dr Samanta, founder of KIIT, KISS and KIMS, expressed his gratitude for the minister’s visit and revealed plans to double the sports infrastructure at KIIT and KISS in the coming years.
“With the minister’s blessings, we aim to expand our facilities further and provide more opportunities for budding athletes,” remarked Samanta, who accompanied Mandaviya and other officials on a ride around the velodrome.
Cycling Federation of India secretary general Maninder Pal Singh lauded the Union minister’s passion for sports. “The minister is a cycling enthusiast himself, and his contribution to promoting sports across the country is remarkable,” he said.
Minati was visibly moved by the honour.
“I am speechless. People say Dr Samanta is like a god to us. This is the greatest honour of my life,” she said.
