Kataka: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi Sunday inaugurated the first edition of ‘Odisha T20 League CM Trophy’ at the Barabati Stadium in Kataka and said the tournament will provide a platform for cricketing talents of the state to showcase their skills.
The state already has similar tournaments for football, kho-kho, kabaddi, and volleyball.
Stating that sports are no longer confined merely to competitions but have become a medium to build a successful career, CM Majhi said India’s sporting landscape has undergone a complete transformation over the last decade.
The association of Suresh Raina and Odisha’s own Debashis Mohanty as league ambassadors will inspire young players, the chief minister said, adding the tournament will help identify rural cricketing talent across 30 districts and provide them a big platform to showcase their skills.
To strengthen sports infrastructure in the state, the government has allocated Rs 4,124 crore for the construction of state-of-the-art stadiums across all 314 blocks of Odisha, he said and pointed out that a high-tech sports complex will be built at Gothapatana in Bhubaneswar.
CM Majhi said his government was committed to the complete renovation of the Barabati Stadium and to transform it into one of the country’s premier sports venues.
PTI