Bhubaneswar: Odisha is all set to expand its array of High Performance Centers with the addition of two new disciplines. In the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed today between Odisha and Tata Steel to establish High Performance Centres dedicated to Olympic sports, Archery, and Sport Climbing.
The Odisha Tata Archery Academy and the Odisha Tata Steel Adventure Foundation Sport Climbing Academy will be established in Bhubaneswar, focusing on the development of athletes in these disciplines. In addition, Regional Development Centres will be established for archery, and both academies will implement grassroots programs.
These High Performance Centres, led by experts, will play a pivotal role in identifying and nurturing exceptional talent, enabling athletes to compete at national and international levels. They will offer top-notch infrastructure and training facilities, serving as hubs for aspiring athletes to reach their full potential. The academies will feature players scouted from state sports hostels, state-level, and national-level programs.
Athletes enrolled in these programs will also have access to the comprehensive sports facilities provided by the Sports & Youth Services Department, including the gymnasium, swimming pool, and India’s largest sports science center at the Kalinga Stadium.
Expressing his satisfaction with the collaboration, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik stated, “We are delighted to collaborate with Tata Steel in this endeavor. Our partnership with Tata Steel for the Hockey High Performance Centre has been exemplary and has yielded encouraging results. With immense potential for Archery and Sports Climbing in Odisha and the country, this new association will contribute significantly to creating a conducive environment for athletes in these disciplines.”
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Representatives from the Sports & Youth Services Department, Secretary Vineel Krishna, and Tata Steel, Mr. Chanakya Chaudhary, Vice President of Corporate Services Tata Steel Ltd., and Chairman of Tata Steel Adventure Foundation, were present at the signing ceremony.
Odisha has established a cluster of High Performance Centres at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, showcasing a unique partnership model between the state and a corporate entity. This model has proven successful in producing elite athletes in various sports, including Hockey, Football, Swimming, Athletics, Gymnastics, Sports Science, Shooting, Weightlifting, and now, archery and sport climbing will further benefit from this collaborative initiative.
