Bhubaneswar, Feb 23 (Bureau) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday launched sports infrastructure projects worth Rs. 660 crore in the state. These projects included 48 multipurpose indoor stadiums, Cuttack Table Tennis Academy, Rourkela Gymnastics Academy and 12 hockey training centres. Patnaik also laid the foundation stone for 11 sports projects which would be taken up under the 5T initiative to ensure transformation of the sports sector, from grassroots to elite. The multipurpose indoor stadiums will have courts, rooms and facilities for sports like badminton, table tennis, yoga, chess and weightlifting and gymnasium. In addition, an upgraded multipurpose indoor hall in Bhawanipatna was inaugurated. Official sources said 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. 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. The Chief Minister had taken a decision to create hockey training centres with synthetic turfs across the rural and tribal areas to strengthen the hockey ecosystem and give young kids an early start to a competitive environment. The inaugurated 12 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). Patnaik also laid foundation stone for 11 sports infrastructure which included 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, Kendrapara and Hockey Training Centre in Deogarh, upgradation of the Baripada stadium and upgradation of the Nehru Stadium in Bhadrak The Chief Minister hoped that the facilities launched on Friday will provide a big momentum to the sports development in the state.” Chairman 5T & Nabin Odisha, Kartik Pandian ,Minister for Science and Technology, Ashok Panda, Minister for Sports and Youth services Tushrakanti Behera,BMC 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 Bhubaneswar. Large number of coaches, players and citizens , along with public representatives participated in the program virtually through video conference at around 60 locations across the state.