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Hans India
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
Majhi seeks global recognition for local games
Bhubaneswar: Seeking global recognition for local games, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday said Odisha will continue to ensure that indigenous sports get their rightful place on the world said this in his keynote address at the WAVES (World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit) 2025, held at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai, a CMO release said. Speaking at the special session titled 'Indigenous Sports – From India to the Global Stage,' the Chief Minister spotlighted the cultural, social and global significance of India's traditional sports.'We will continue to work with the Government of India and global federations to ensure that indigenous sports get their rightful place on the world stage,' Majhi said. Drawing from his own upbringing in Keonjhar, a tribal-dominated hinterland district of Odisha, the Chief Minister reflected on his early sporting experiences with 'kabaddi' and 'khokho'. 'These were more than games,' he said, adding that they were expressions of teamwork, resilience and identity rooted in the soil of our communities. Majhi informed the gathering that Odisha is the first State in India to establish a dedicated High-Performance Centre (HPC) for an indigenous sport like kho kho, in collaboration with a steel landmark initiative redefines the narrative around traditional sports, recognising them as professional disciplines worthy of structured training, infrastructure and innovation, he said and highlighted the success of Odisha Juggernauts. Odisha is the only State government-owned franchise in the Ultimate Kho Kho League, which won the league's inaugural season in 2022, he said, adding that'it stands as a testament to what focused support and strategic investment can achieve.' Majhi further said: 'As we say in Odisha, Khela re sanskruti achhi, sanskruti re asmita achhi (In our games lies our culture, and in our culture lies our identity.)'. WAVES 2025 featured an esteemed panel of speakers during the session, including Pro Kabaddi League Commissioner Anupam Goswami, global kabaddi icon Fazel Atrachali and indigenous sports advocate Sudhanshu Mittal.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Odisha leads push to promote indigenous sports at WAVES
Bhubaneswar: In a significant push for indigenous sports , chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi outlined an ambitious vision for traditional Indian games at WAVES-2025, the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit, held in Mumbai on Saturday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Speaking at a special session titled "Indigenous Sports – From India to the Global Stage", Majhi highlighted 's groundbreaking initiatives in sports development, particularly its distinction as the first Indian state to establish a dedicated High-Performance Centre for Kho Kho , in partnership with AMNS India. Drawing from his personal experiences in Keonjhar's tribal heartland, Majhi emphasised how traditional sports like kabaddi and kho-kho represent more than mere games, serving as vehicles for cultural expression and community building. "These were expressions of teamwork, resilience, and identity rooted in the soil of our communities," he said. The chief minister showcased the success of Odisha Juggernauts, the state's govt-owned franchise that clinched victory in the Ultimate Kho Kho League's inaugural season in 2022, demonstrating the potential of strategic investment in traditional sports. The session featured prominent speakers, including Pro Kabaddi League commissioner Anupam Goswami, international kabaddi star Fazel Atrachali, and indigenous sports advocate Sudhanshu Mittal. Discussions centred on elevating Indian traditional sports to international platforms, including the Olympics. Concluding his address with an Odia saying, "Khela re sanskruti achhi, sanskruti re asmita achhi" (in our games lies our culture, and in our culture lies our identity), Majhi reaffirmed Odisha's commitment to working with the Central Govt and global federations to promote indigenous sports worldwide. The summit marks another milestone in Odisha's ongoing efforts to integrate sports with youth empowerment, social development, and cultural preservation, setting a benchmark for other states to follow.
