Berhampur: To boost grassroots sports development in Odisha, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) is set to launch five new Khelo India Centres (KICs) under the Central government’s Khelo India initiative. These centres will be established in Ganjam, Gajapati, Jharsuguda, Nayagarh, and Deogarh districts, covering three different sporting disciplines.
The newly sanctioned KICs will focus on basketball, kho-kho, and football. Ganjam district will host the Khelo India Basketball Centre at the Government Queen of the Mission High School. Meanwhile, the Khelo India Kho-Kho Centres will be established at Government SVT High School in Gajapati and RK Government School in Jharsuguda. Football enthusiasts will benefit from new centres at Teleibani PS High School in Deoghar and Narayana Government High School in Nayagarh.
SAI has informed the Odisha government of the project’s approval, and funds will be allocated for operating these centres. Coaches or mentors will be appointed within the next two months to oversee the training programs, with a focus on utilizing former champion athletes as coaches, in line with the guidelines of the Khelo India scheme.
To ensure inclusivity, each centre is expected to maintain an equal ratio of male to female trainees. Talent identification will be conducted by past champion athletes or approved organizations, ensuring a robust selection process.
Odisha has made significant strides in sports development through the Khelo India initiative. According to the official Khelo India website, 26 KICs across nine disciplines have been approved for 25 of the state’s 30 districts, with six centres already operational.