-Satyakam Ray

India’s national sport is Hockey. A few years ago, Indian Hockey was in shambles after its sponsor backed out amid poor performances at international events. Come to the rescue, Shri Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister of Odisha. Known for his goalkeeping skills in his school days, Naveen Patnaik helped Indian hockey during these turbulent times by sponsoring both the men’s and women’s teams for three years. Isn’t it amazing? The backing paid off: the Indian men’s hockey team won the bronze medal at the Olympics, and the women’s team did well.

The noteworthy support from Shri Naveen Patnaik highlighted Odisha’s rich and glorious sports culture. Rourkela and Sundargarh are powerhouses of Indian Hockey, having produced many international players for India’s team. The likes of Dilip Tirkey, Lazarus Barla, and the new faces of Indian Hockey share the same motherland. The cream of Indian Hockey practiced and honed its skills in these tribal areas, where basic amenities were scarce. Thanks to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) hostels, these players had the opportunity and backing to do the impossible. It’s said that kids from these areas are taught to hold handmade hockey sticks and balls to practice from an early age. It’s an involuntary choice for many.

Not only Hockey, but Odisha can also boast of producing many international-level gems in cricket, football, athletics, chess, and badminton. The likes of Shradhanjali Patnaik in football, Padmini Rout in chess, and Dutee Chand in sprints have graced Indian sports. Debashis Das and Shivsundar Das have represented India on the international cricket stage. Shivsundar Das is one of the national selectors for the Indian team. Pramod Bhagat, the Paralympic badminton player, is one of the odia youth sports icons.

KIIT founder Dr. Achyuta Samant has played an immense role in developing Sports culture in Odisha. His foundation, KISS, which sponsors thousands of tribal kids for schooling and sports, has achieved remarkable success in its young tenure. KIIT has sponsored many chess players and athletes, enabling them to give their best in their respective sports.

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik is the reason behind all the success stories we hear about today’s sports-culture-based state. Odisha officially sponsors the Indian Hockey, Basketball, and Rugby teams. That says something about a state and its leadership. The Kalinga Stadium and Rourkela Stadium are now major attractions for the Hockey World Cup, the Pro Hockey League, and other international events. Lakhs of Sports enthusiasts, Players, and journalists flock to Bhubaneswar to witness these events and rate Odisha as a good host of hospitality and tourism. The sports culture has given Odisha a new reputation worldwide. People now recognize Odisha not only for Puri Jagannath but also for its unique sports culture. Shri Naveen Patnaik has been awarded for contributing to Sports at many international and national levels.

Sports culture has added a new dimension to the already revered Odia tradition. The accolades and recognition mean Odisha is being placed on the world sports map in high regard as a powerhouse- and that’s an impressive place to be, right?