In a significant step toward enhancing sports infrastructure in Odisha, five additional Khelo India Centres will be established across five districts of the state.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) will soon launch five new Khelo India Centres (KICs) under a Central scheme in five districts of Odisha. These centres are part of the government’s larger mission to identify and nurture talent at the local level.
Focus on Grassroots Development
The new centres will be located in the districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Jharsuguda, Nayagarh and Deogarh, all of which have shown great potential in producing young sporting talent. These facilities will provide the much-needed platform for local athletes to train and compete at a higher level.
SAI has recently informed the Odisha government about the opening of the centres after the project was approved by the competent authority on Thursday. The government’s initiative is aimed at boosting sports participation among the youth and offering them access to modern training facilities.
The Khelo India initiative, launched in 2018, has been a game-changer for sports development across India. The state has been a hub of sports activities, particularly in hockey, and the addition of these centres will further solidify its position as a sports powerhouse.
While SAI will provide funds to run the centres, former champion athletes would be engaged as the coach or mentors in each discipline at these proposed centres in the next two months, the officials said.
Bridging the Gap Between Talent and Opportunity
According to officials, Each district has been selected based on its existing sporting culture and potential to produce future champions. This move is expected to bridge the gap between local talent and national-level opportunities, creating a robust pipeline of athletes.
The state government, along with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, is working in tandem to ensure that these centres are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. This will enable athletes to receive quality coaching and make the most of the opportunities provided through the Khelo India initiative.
In recent years, Odisha has gained recognition as a sporting state, hosting national and international events. The establishment of these new centres is another step in that direction, ensuring that the youth of Odisha get ample opportunities to showcase their talent and pursue their dreams in the field of sports.
Former champion athletes should be engaged as coaches in each discipline, while the talent pool identification would be done by the respective past champion athletes or organisations adhering to the guidelines of the scheme. Each centre must have strived to have an equal ratio of male to female trainees.