In a significant move to enhance grassroots sports infrastructure, Odisha is set to open five new Khelo India Centres (KICs) under the central government’s Khelo India Scheme, officials confirmed on Sunday. These centres, aimed at nurturing young talent, will be established in five districts, focusing on three key sports disciplines.
New Centres to Promote Basketball, Kho-Kho, and Football
The newly announced Khelo India Basketball Centre will be inaugurated at the Government Queen of the Mission High School in Ganjam district, while two Khelo India Kho-Kho Centres will be set up at Government SVT High School in Gajapati district and RK Government School in Jharsuguda district, respectively.
In addition, two football centres will be launched at Teleibani PS High School in Deogarh district and Narayana Government High School in Nayagarh district. These centres are expected to provide aspiring athletes with the necessary coaching and infrastructure to excel in their respective sports.
Central Support for Infrastructure and Coaching
The Sports Authority of India (SAI), the nodal agency for implementing the Khelo India Scheme, has informed the Odisha government about the establishment of these new centres. SAI will provide funds to operate the centres, ensuring high-quality coaching and facilities. The recruitment of coaches or mentors for each discipline is expected to be completed in the next two months.
In keeping with the scheme’s guidelines, former champion athletes will be engaged as coaches at each centre. These mentors will not only oversee the development of talent but also help identify young players with the potential to represent their state and country in national and international competitions.
Equal Opportunities for All Athletes
One of the key objectives of these Khelo India Centres is to maintain an equal ratio of male and female trainees, ensuring that both genders have equal opportunities to pursue sports at the grassroots level. The talent identification process will be spearheaded by the respective past champion athletes or accredited organisations, following the scheme’s structured guidelines.
Local Support and Encouragement
The opening of these centres has garnered positive reactions from local leaders and sports personalities. Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy, the Member of Parliament from Berhampur, expressed his happiness, particularly with the establishment of two centres in his constituency. “These centres will allow local talent to shine and compete at the national and international level. The youth of Odisha will get a much-needed platform to prove their skills,” he said.
K Ravi Kumar, a gold medalist at the Commonwealth Games in weightlifting, also lauded the initiative. He noted that these centres will play a vital role in the development of athletes from rural areas, providing them with professional coaching and infrastructure that was previously lacking.
Khelo India in Odisha: A Growing Network
According to the official Khelo India website, 26 Khelo India Centres across nine sports disciplines have already been approved for 25 out of Odisha’s 30 districts. Out of these, six centres have started operations. The addition of the five new centres marks a continued effort by both the central and state governments to expand the Khelo India initiative and promote sports at the grassroots level.
By providing young athletes with structured training and modern facilities, these Khelo India Centres are poised to transform the sports landscape in Odisha, enabling more talent from rural and urban areas to emerge on the national stage.