Bhubaneswar: On the occasion of the National Sport Day today, Odisha Government conferred the prestigious Biju Patnaik Sports Awards on individuals and organisations for their outstanding contributions to the field of sports.
Organised by the Odisha Sports Department, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi attended the programme as the chief guest. Chief Secretary Anu Garg and Sports Minister Suryabanshi Suraj were also present at the programme.
The awards were presented across various categories to recognise excellence and significant contributions by sportspersons, coaches, technical officials, sports organisations and sports journalists.
Paralympian Loma Swain received the Biju Patnaik Sports Award as the Best Sportsperson of the Year. Weightlifting coach Gopal Krishna Das was honoured as the Best Coach for his contribution to developing athletes.
Asian Games medalist Pranati Mishra received the award for lifetime achievement in sports. Samaleswari Sporting Club was recognised for its outstanding contribution to sports promotion.
Parathlete Suchitra Parida received the award for Best Para Athlete.
The Best Emerging Sportsperson awards were presented to Pratik Maharana and Payal Nag.
Prabodha Kumar Mahanty was honoured as the Best Technical Sports Official, while sports journalist Shakti Prakash Nanda received the award for excellence in sports journalism.
The Biju Patnaik Bravery Awards was conferred on Soumyaranjan Behera, and posthumously on the late Sunil Kumar Ray and late Nilamadhab Panda.
Odisha as one of major sporting hubs
Odisha has emerged as one of India’s major sporting hubs, with the State Government focusing on developing sports infrastructure and nurturing talent from the grassroots level, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said.
Describing Odisha’s transformation from the ‘playground to the podium’, the Chief Minister said the State was committed to creating world-class sports infrastructure and providing the best training facilities for young athletes.
As part of its grassroots sports development initiatives, modern stadiums are being constructed across all 314 blocks of Odisha at an estimated cost of Rs 4,124 crore, he said.
The State is also developing a world-class sports complex at Gothapatna in Bhubaneswar and setting up the Baji Rout Regional Sports Hub in Dhenkanal, along with five other regional sports hubs.
The Chief Minister said the government was also taking steps to identify and promote sporting talent from rural areas through initiatives such as the CM Trophy.
Emphasising the role of sports in bringing about social change, he said sports equipment was being distributed among young people in 485 villages across 10 Maoist-affected districts of the State.
The initiative aims to encourage greater participation in sports and provide opportunities for young people in rural and underserved areas, he said.
Highlighting Odisha’s growing prominence on the international sporting map, Majhi said the State had achieved the historic distinction of becoming the first in India to host the 2028 Asian and World Athletics Indoor Championships.
He said the State’s continued investment in infrastructure, training and grassroots talent development would further strengthen Odisha’s position as a leading sporting destination and help athletes progress from local playgrounds to national and international podiums.
The National Sports Day in the country is being celebrated as a three-day nationwide campaign from August 28 to August 30, 2026, honoring the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.