Bhubaneswar: The grand Opening Ceremony of the 31st Sub-Junior National Baseball Championship 2026 was held on Sunday at the KISS Stadium Campus–1, Bhubaneswar, in a vibrant and enthusiastic atmosphere with participation from players, officials, dignitaries, and sports lovers from across the country.
The ceremony commenced with the arrival of distinguished guests on the stage, followed by presentation of bouquets and badges. A colourful March Past by participating teams accompanied by the Police Band added grandeur to the occasion.
The programme included addresses by several eminent personalities associated with baseball Sibananda Pradhan, General Secretary, Baseball Association of Odisha, presented the tournament report.
Dr. Prabodh Mohanty, President, Baseball Association of Odisha, highlighted Odisha’s growing role in promoting baseball and grassroots sports development and welcomed all the participants to this mega event. Pankaj Lochan Mohanty, President, Amateur Baseball Federation of India, appreciated the efforts made by Odisha in successfully hosting the prestigious national championship and committed to take steps to promote baseball at the national level. Also encouraged the young athletes to uphold the spirit of discipline, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
The event was graced by Prof. Jnyana Ranjan Mohanty, Registrar, KIIT University, and Prof. Saranjit Singh, Vice Chancellor, KIIT University, as Guests of Honour. Both dignitaries emphasized the importance of sports in character building and holistic education.
The ceremony reached its pinnacle with the address of the Chief Guest, Prof. (Dr.) Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS, who officially declared the “31st Sub-Junior National Baseball Championship 2026” OPEN amidst loud applause and enthusiasm from the participants.
An oath-taking ceremony by the Captain of the Odisha Baseball Team reaffirmed the commitment of all players towards fair play and integrity in sports. The programme concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Anjan Kumar Khuntia, Convenor.
Additionally, during his address, Pankaj Lochan Mohanty, President, Amateur Baseball Federation of India (A.B.F.I.), announced a visionary initiative for the development of baseball in the country. He expressed his commitment to establishing an International Baseball Academy in collaboration with KIIT & KISS University in the near future, equipped with world-class sports infrastructure and training facilities.
The proposed academy aims to nurture young talent, promote scientific coaching, and create opportunities for Indian baseball players to compete at international standards. The announcement was welcomed with great enthusiasm by players, officials, and sports enthusiasts present at the ceremony.
The successful conduct of the Opening Ceremony was made possible through the dedicated coordination and collective efforts of Dr. Gaganendu Dash, Director General, KIIT & KISS, along with Rudrakesh Jena, Dr. Abhisekh Sharma, Narayan Sahu, Subhash Swain, Mahesh Malla, Kalinga Das, Arabinda Khuntia, Aurobin Rath, Debabrata Samal and Bala Ray, who played key roles in organizing and managing the event smoothly and successfully.
