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Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched sports infrastructure projects worth Rs 660 crore at various places in Odisha today.
The projects include 48 multipurpose indoor stadiums, Cuttack Table Tennis Academy, Rourkela Gymnastics Academy and 12 hockey training centres.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister also laid foundation stones for 11 sports projects. These projects have been taken up under 5T initiative to ensure transformation of the sports sector, from grassroots to elite, said the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) in a statement.
To propel sports development at the grassroots and encourage a healthy lifestyle, 48 multipurpose indoor stadiums have been developed across Odisha. The multipurpose indoor stadiums will have courts, rooms and facilities for sports like badminton, table tennis, yoga, chess and weightlifting. In addition, an upgraded multipurpose indoor hall in Bhawanipatna was inaugurated.
There is tremendous potential for young paddlers of Odisha. The Cuttack Table Tennis Academy features 16 premium-quality TT tables, accompanied by a fully-equipped gymnasium and a dedicated weightlifting room. The facility also encompasses a designated area for chess enthusiasts, as well as spaces specifically made for yoga and zumba, offering a comprehensive approach to wellness and fitness. In addition to the Odisha Table Tennis Academy, it will play a significant role in promoting TT in the state.
Rourkela Gymnastics Academy, a new addition to the Gymnastics ecosystem, features international standard equipment and also houses facilities for weightlifting, table tennis, yoga and gym.
To strengthen the hockey ecosystem and give young kids an early start to competitive environment, the Chief Minister had taken a decision to create hockey training centres with synthetic turfs across the rural and tribal areas. These newly-built hockey training centres (HTCs) will impart professional coaching under the aegis of expert coaches. With this, the state now has 23 HTCs (Sundargarh-17, Sambalpur-2, Jajpur-1, Cuttack-1, Ganjam-1, and Bhubaneswar-1).
The Chief Minister also laid foundation stones for 11 sports infrastructure projects that include four multipurpose indoor stadiums at Remuna, Baliguda, Titlagarh and Karanjia; an indoor swimming pool in Bhadrak; a football training centre, indoor swimming pool and basketball courts in Cuttack; women football training centre at Aul in Kendrapada and hockey training centre in Deogarh, upgradation of Baripada stadium and renovation of Nehru Stadium in Bhadrak.
“ We want to provide the best sports facilities for 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,” said the Chief Minister.
Chairman 5T & Nabin Odisha VK Pandian interacted with some of the sports persons present at the ceremony and assured them of all support for their sports endeavours.
Minister for Science and Technology, SSEPD Ashok Panda, Minister for Sports and Youth services, EIT Tusharkanti Behera, Mayor Sulochana Das, Development Commissioner Anu Garg, Sports and Youth Services Secretary Vineel Krishna and other officials and sportspersons were present on the occasion at Indoor stadium in the capital city here.
Large number of coaches, players and common people along with public representatives participated in the event virtually at around 60 locations across the state.
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