Mumbai, May 3: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today said Odisha government will continue to work with the Centre and global federations to ensure that indigenous sports get their rightful place on the world stage.
The Chief Minister addressed the prestigious WAVES 2025 – World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit, held at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai today.
Speaking at the special session titled “Indigenous Sports – From India to the Global Stage,” the Chief Minister spotlighted the cultural, social, and global significance of India’s traditional sports.
Drawing from his own upbringing in Keonjhar, a tribal-dominated hinterland district of Odisha, the Chief Minister reflected on his early sporting experiences with kabaddi and kho-kho.
“These were more than games,” he said.
“They were expressions of teamwork, resilience, and identity rooted in the soil of our communities,” he added.
The address underscored Odisha’s pioneering role in sports development, particularly in the realm of indigenous games.
Majhi proudly said that Odisha is the first state in India to establish a dedicated High-Performance Centre for an indigenous sport i.e. Kho Kho, in collaboration with AM/NS India.
This landmark initiative redefines the narrative around traditional sports, recognizing them as professional disciplines worthy of structured training, infrastructure, and innovation.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the success of Odisha Juggernauts, the only state government-owned franchise in the Ultimate Kho Kho League, which won the league’s inaugural season in 2022.
“It stands as a testament to what focused support and strategic investment can achieve,” he added.
WAVES 2025 featured an esteemed panel of speakers in the session, including Pro Kabaddi League Commissioner Anupam Goswami, global kabaddi icon Fazel Atrachali, and indigenous sports advocate Sudhanshu Mittal.
The discussion explored how India’s traditional sports can be taken to international platforms, including the Olympics, with the support of athletes, media, federations, and government.
