Odisha’s emerging sports landscape: Achievements, challenges, & prospects for the future

Odisha, a state celebrated for its cultural richness and historical heritage, is gradually making its mark in the realm of sports. While traditionally known for its success in hockey, the state is now expanding its sporting horizon to include cricket, archery, boxing, and shooting. Despite some achievements, these sports face numerous challenges, and their future in the state remains a topic of significant discussion. This article explores the current landscape of these sports in Odisha, highlighting the state's achievements, obstacles, and the road ahead.

Cricket: A Slow Journey Toward Recognition

Cricket, one of the most followed sports in India, has seen slow growth in Odisha. While the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack has hosted several international matches, the state's cricketing achievements at the national and international levels remain limited.

Odisha’s journey in cricket began with Debashish Mohanty, the first cricketer from the state to represent India internationally. His success was followed by Shiv Sundar Das, another international player who brought recognition to Odisha's cricketing efforts. Despite these early achievements, the state has struggled to consistently produce cricketers who can compete on the national stage. Sanjay Raul, Pragyan Ojha, and Anshuman Rath are among the few names that have emerged over the years, but Odisha's cricketing infrastructure and talent pipeline still lag behind other Indian states.

The Barabati Stadium remains the primary venue for cricket in Odisha, having hosted international Test matches, ODIs, and T20s. Other venues like the KIIT Stadium and the Railway Stadium are slowly contributing to the development of the sport in the region. However, the absence of top-tier coaching academies and regular exposure to competitive cricket has stunted the growth of local talent.

Shooting: A Rising Sport

While cricket continues to develop at a slower pace, shooting has become one of Odisha’s most promising sports. The rise in popularity of shooting across India can be traced back to Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore's silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Since then, the sport has gained momentum, and Odisha is no exception.

The state's infrastructure for shooting is growing, with advanced shooting ranges being established at venues like Kalinga Stadium and Utkal Karate School. One of the state’s brightest stars in this sport is Shriyanka Sadangi, who qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics, making her one of the first Odia athletes to reach such a significant milestone in shooting. Her achievement has brought attention to the sport and created a pathway for future Odia shooters.

Despite the progress, Odisha still faces challenges in nurturing and supporting emerging talent. There is a need for enhanced training facilities, better coaching, and more financial support for athletes to ensure consistent success in national and international competitions.

Boxing: Fighting for Growth

Boxing has gained a foothold in Odisha in recent years, with local athletes making their way into national championships. However, the sport has yet to achieve widespread popularity in the state. The emergence of grassroots boxing programs and training centres is encouraging, but boxing faces challenges similar to other non-mainstream sports in Odisha: inadequate funding, limited infrastructure, and a lack of professional coaching.

While the national boxing scene in India continues to grow, with athletes like Mary Kom and Lovlina Borgohain making headlines, Odisha's boxers still struggle to break through on the international stage. Investment in youth programs, infrastructure, and creating a pathway for boxers to transition from state to national levels will be critical in the coming years.

Archery: Tapping Into Traditional Skills

Archery, a sport deeply rooted in India's tribal and rural traditions, holds special significance in Odisha. With a large tribal population, the state has a natural talent pool for archery. Deep Grace Ekka, one of the most successful athletes from Odisha, has represented India in various international archery tournaments, bringing hope to the sport’s future in the state.

Odisha has started to build a stronger archery ecosystem, with local academies and schools dedicated to training young archers. However, the state's efforts to promote archery face challenges, including insufficient resources, lack of top-tier coaching, and limited access to high-quality equipment. To realise its full potential in archery, Odisha needs to invest in developing its grassroots programs and provide better opportunities for young athletes to compete in national and international events.

Challenges Faced by Odisha’s Sporting Landscape

While Odisha has made significant strides in promoting various sports, several challenges continue to hinder progress. A lack of consistent funding for sports infrastructure is one of the most pressing issues. While cricket benefits from established venues like Barabati Stadium, other sports such as boxing, shooting, and archery suffer from inadequate facilities. Developing state-of-the-art stadiums, training centres, and academies is essential to ensuring athletes can train at the highest levels.

Another challenge is the lack of top-quality coaching. Many talented athletes in Odisha do not have access to the coaching expertise required to compete on the national or international stage. Establishing training partnerships with national sports bodies and recruiting experienced coaches will be crucial in addressing this gap.

Lastly, there is a need for more exposure to competitive events. Odisha's athletes often miss out on opportunities to compete at higher levels due to a lack of regular tournaments and competitions within the state. Hosting more state-level, national, and international competitions can provide valuable experience for local athletes.

Prospects for the Future

Despite the challenges, the future of sports in Odisha looks promising. The state government has already shown its commitment to developing the sports ecosystem by hosting major events like the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup and investing in sports infrastructure at venues such as Kalinga Stadium.

The Odisha Sports Development and Promotion Company (OSDPC) is another initiative aimed at fostering a sporting culture in the state. By promoting various sports and investing in talent development, Odisha could soon emerge as a hub for athletics, not just hockey.

With continued investment in sports infrastructure, coaching, and talent development, Odisha has the potential to make significant strides in cricket, shooting, boxing, and archery. By addressing the challenges and capitalising on its natural talent pool, Odisha can transform itself into a sporting powerhouse on the national stage.

Odisha’s journey in sports is still unfolding. While the state has made some achievements, particularly in shooting and cricket, much remains to be done to fully tap into its sporting potential. With sustained effort, Odisha could soon emerge as a major player in India's sports landscape, nurturing athletes who can compete at the highest levels both nationally and internationally.