Bhubaneswar: In one more landmark achievement for Odisha, famend sports activities journal Sportstar immediately honoured the State with the Decade’s Finest State for Promotion of Sports activities award for the interval from 2011 to 2020. Odisha obtained the Sportstar Aces Award that honoured the Giants of the Decade.
Famend Hockey star MM Somaya handed over the award to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at a particular perform organised on the conference corridor of Loka Seva Bhawan in presence of eminent sports activities personalities of the nation.
“I dedicate this award to the 4.5 crore individuals of Odisha, particularly the youth,” the Chief Minister stated after receiving the award.
“Sports activities for youth and youth for future,” the Chief Minister stated with nice confidence on the youth of Odisha and known as upon them, “let’s shine in each discipline and transfer in direction of a brand new Odisha, empowered Odisha.’
The Chief Minister additional stated that whether or not it’s catastrophe administration or it’s Covid administration, we’ve got confronted each problem boldly, come out with flying colors, and have set new benchmarks.
Accepting the award on behalf of the individuals of Odisha, the CM stated that it’s certainly a second of nice satisfaction for us in Odisha.
Thanking the Jury headed by Sunil Gavaskar for selecting Odisha as the most effective state for selling sports activities, the Chief Minister stated that for generations in India, Sportstar was the window to the world of Sports activities. It has been a supply of inspiration and motivation for many years earlier than the period of tv and web, he added. Expressing his happiness over Sportstar’s persevering with its wealthy custom of selling and recognizing sporting achievements in India, he wished the Sportstar group the perfect within the coming years.
He additional stated that sports activities has a serious function in constructing a wholesome and disciplined society. The youth must be guided to productively utilise their energies and make them well-rounded personalities. With this imaginative and prescient, we’ve got been pro-actively supporting sports activities throughout the State, he added.
Talking concerning the success of Asian Athletics 2017 inside simply 90-days’ time interval, he stated that Odisha has now change into well-known for its flawless conduct of nationwide and worldwide sports activities occasions, even at a brief discover.
He additional stated, “We’ve got organized the Males’s Hockey World Cup 2018 and can be internet hosting the subsequent version as nicely in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela in 2023. Odisha is constructing the most important Hockey Stadium within the nation in Rourkela for the Hockey World Cup. We’re additionally constructing India’s first indoor athletics monitor. We can be most likely the one State to plan for the indoor sports activities halls and fields throughout all of the city native our bodies. The challenge is to be launched shortly and can be accomplished by subsequent 12 months.”
He stated that Odisha has began the distinctive partnership mannequin with the corporates and eminent sports activities individuals to begin excessive efficiency centres in numerous sports activities disciplines. Kalinga Stadium sports activities advanced is rising as a serious vacation spot for sports activities in India. Not too long ago, the Indian Javelin workforce has camped within the Kalinga Stadium for his or her Tokyo Olympics preparation, he added.
He additional stated that we’ve got additionally launched massive scale grassroots packages. In Sundargarh district, which has produced many worldwide hockey gamers, we’re going to assemble artificial hockey turfs in each block of the district, he knowledgeable.
Talking on the event, veteran Hockey Star MM Somaya stated that the Chief Minister is a sports activities lover at coronary heart. He stated that the jury thought of the award for Odisha on three key areas. They’re the flexibility to harness expertise of the sports activities individuals with tremendous infra amenities, the Excessive efficiency centres with partnership of business and sports activities individuals, and skill to organise worldwide occasions.
In his welcome handle, Ayan Sengupta, Senior editor of the Hindu Group stated that Odisha has ushered in a revolution in sports activities prior to now decade. He stated that ace cricketer Sunil Gavaskar was extremely impressed with the efficiency of Odisha.
CEO of Hindu Group LV Naveneeth thanked the Chief Minister and Group Odisha for promotion of sports activities and stated that the Starsports can be with Odisha for constructing a better sporting future.
Veteran Sportspersons Sunil Gavaskar, Baichung Bhutia, Viswanathan Anand, Aparna Popat — all despatched their video message for the programme. All of them congratulated for the award and appreciated the efforts Odisha has made in championing the reason for sports activities.
A video on the sporting efforts and occasions in Odisha was screened.
Amongst others, Sports activities Minister Tusharkanti Behera, Vetrearan Hockey star Dillip Tirkey, Sports activities Principal Secretary Vishal Dev, Secretary to CM 5T VK Pandian and different senior officers have been current.
