Bhubaneswar: Odisha Olympic Association named a probable 28-member state team for the upcoming 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championship schedule to be held at Kalinga Stadium from 24-28 June 2026. Odisha’s home-grown sprinter Amiya Kumar Mallick raised a question about Chhattisgarh born athlete Animesh Kujur’s name in the Odisha state team.
In this context Amiya communicate the Athletic Federation of India (AFI) and Odisha State Olympic Association (OOA), is Chhattisgarh athlete Animesh Kujur have the valid No Objection Certificate (NOC) from both the current State Association and the State Association from which he got the transfer.
On the letter he also mentioned that “athlete Animesh got a NOC was temporary and valid only for a period of one year from 20 September 2023 to 19 September 2024,”
OOA general secretary Avijit Pal said “as per the AFI guidelines maximum three athletes will represent the State in one particular event. Our state athlete Amiya Kumar Mallick was named in the state men’s 4X100 relay team. The state association also wrote a letter to AFI for Amiya’s entry into the individual 100m race through wildcard entry”. Talking about the Animesh Kujur’s NOC to represent Odisha, OOA secretary Pal explained “the AFI created a guideline governing the transfer of athletes between State Associations. Pal admitted that Animesh got a NOC for the period from 20 September 2023 to 19 September 2024 to represent our state. But after that we do not have any communication from Chhattisgarh Association nor from AFI regarding his NOC”.
