UAE contributes to the development spirit of Odisha, known as the ‘Sports Capital of India’

By K.R. Nayar

India’s new President, Droupadi Murmu, hails from this eastern state of India, Odisha, formerly known as Orissa. This state is slowly but surely marching ahead to be considered as a role model state, especially over what they have done to support sports and thereby inspire youngsters in India. So much so that today this state is called as the ‘Sports Capital of India’. The spirit they have shown has impressed the UAE too, and many businessmen and expatriates have come forward to back the spirit of Odisha’s initiatives in all fields.

UAE investors signs a Memoranda of Understanding(MoU) worth $2.76bn with Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik 

Odisha showed the way by becoming the first Indian state to sponsor a national sports team. This state is the official sponsor of India’s men and women’s hockey teams. Though hockey is the national game of India, it did not have good financial support and hence not well promoted.  Odisha's support resulted in India’s men’s hockey team going on win the bronze medal in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics – its first medal in this event after a wait of 41 years. The women’s hockey team missed the bronze by a whisker losing 4-3 to Great Britain.

India's hockey team celebrate their bronze medal triumph in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics 

This state also supports other sports like athletics, tennis, rugby and football, in addition to cricket, because of which many star players are now emerging from Odisha.  The state’s chief minister Naveen Patnaik believes that sports is needed for the youth to match forward. In order to inspire youngsters, his government has often backed the hosting of numerous international sporting events.

The huge billboard in Dubai announcing Odhisa's Investors Meet

So when Naveen Patnaik visited the UAE as part of a roadshow on June 29, 2022, to promote investment in his state’s industrial sector, businessmen here knew they were dealing with a leader with a vision. The result was that UAE investors signed a whopping $2.76bn worth of investment with Odisha. Exchange of skill competences in various sectors have also been explored.

Another interesting aspect about Odisha is that it has demonstrated how sports can be a facilitator for the overall development of a state. Sports tourism is being promoted aggressively there. The Barabati Stadium located in Cuttack is one of the finest stadiums in India that regularly hosts international cricket. Puri is a popular tourist site in Odisha that attracts beach lovers and it is now transforming itself into a surfing destination as well. 

UAE businessman and cricket enthusiast Shyam Bhatia distributes cricket kit at Barabati Stadium 

Initiatives like these with a vision has attracted sports lovers and sponsors to back youngsters. Take the case of UAE cricket enthusiast and businessman Shyam Bhatia who flew to Odisha to distribute cricket kits through his 'Cricket for Care' charity in April 2022. A grand cricket kit distribution function was held at the Barabati Stadium. Tusharkanti Behera, Odisha’s sports and youth services minister attended as the chief guest of the function. Bhatia was accompanied by UAE based cricket coach Gopal Jasapara who conducted a coaching sessions for women’s cricketers there. Madhuri Mehta was the first cricketer from Odisha to play for women’s national team. In men’s cricket, Debasish Mohanty played in two Tests and 45 One Day Internationals between 1997 and 2001 and was among the top 20 in the ICC ODI World Rankings.  Namita Toppo from Odisha was part of the National Hockey team of India in more than 150 matches, and in 2020 she was conferred with the prestigious 28th Ekalavya Award for her contribution to the game. 

Dutee Chand 

A number of sportsmen from this state have also been conferred with top national awards. Pramod Bhagat who bagged the gold medal in SL3 singles category in the Tokyo Paralympic Games was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2019. In athletics, Dutee Chand became the first woman to ever qualify for the women’s 100 meters event at the Summer Olympic Games in 2016. She was the second-fastest runner in India who went on to win the silver in the Women's 100 meters at the Asian Games in Jakarta in 2018. In recognition of her efforts and success, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik presented her a cheque of Rs three crores.

Debasish Mohanty

Chess player Padmini Rout, who bagged the Gold medal in the Asian Continental Women 2018 and holds the titles of International Master (IM) and Woman Grandmaster (GM), was given a boost when she was awarded the Biju Patnaik Sports Award for the year 2007 and the Ekalavya Award in 2009. Many sports hostels and high performance centres are coming up in Odisha, and all of them are aimed at grooming youngsters to excel in their chosen sport. Odhisa is now gearing up to host the Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023.

When one comes across efforts and successes like these, one is reminded of the great Nelson Mandela who had once said, “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. Sport can awaken hope where there was previously only despair. Sport speaks to people in a language they can understand.” Indeed, Odisha is leading from the front in this.