NewzVille Desk
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday attended the All India Kabaddi Tournament ‘Sambalpur Cup’ organized in Sambalpur as the chief guest and encouraged the players.
The Chief Minister said that Kabaddi is not just a game, but it is a symbol of our culture that originated from rural India and is now established at the international level.
On this occasion Majhi announced to make the sports infrastructure of Sambalpur world-class and said that the tender process has been started for the redevelopment of V.S.S. Stadium at a cost of Rs. 25 crores, while the construction of a modern FIFA-qualified football stadium at the Mandalia Sports Complex at a cost of Rs. 15 crores is underway.
In addition, it has been decided to build a 100-bed sports hostel for young players, a multi-purpose stadium and block-level stadiums in all the 9 blocks of the district. While the DPR for the development of Burla and Hirakud Indoor Stadiums is underway, the government is working to develop the Government Sports College at Kulundi as a major sports centre in Western Odisha.
Recalling the journey from the past Kabaddi game on the sandy banks of the Mahanadi to the modern stadium of today, the Chief Minister praised the international sports personalities of Sambalpur.
He said that the success of Bhim Barad, the gold medalist of the 2004 South Asian Games, and Priyanka Pradhan, the daughter of Talapara, who won gold in the 2025 Asian Youth Games, is inspiring for the youth.
Describing victory and defeat in sports as two sides of the same coin, he appreciated the sportsmanship of all the teams and expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the local MLA Jai Narayan Mishra and the organizers for the successful organization.
Panchayati Raj Minister Ravi Narayan Naik, Sambalpur MLA Jayanarayan Mishra, former MLA of Rengali Nauri Naik, Sambalpur District Collector Siddheshwar Dholram Bandar were also present at the event.
