Odisha govt is Committed to Nurture Talent at the Grassroots: Sports Min

We are Committed to Nurture Talent at the Grassroots: Sports Minister Shri Suryabanshi Suraj

Bhubaneswar, Jan 22: The CM Trophy Football Championship has started in Odisha to foster holistic sports development and provide a golden opportunity for grassroots talent. The tournament, organized by the Sports and Youth Services Department, Odisha in collaboration with the Football Association of Odisha, aims to nurture young footballers.The championship is for the players under 15 years of age.

In the 1st phase the championship currently is being organized at 16 places, including Angul, Balangir, Bhadrak, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Kandhamal, Kendrapara, Keonjhar, Khordha, Puri, Sambalpur, Sundargarh and Rourkela.

Sports Minister Shri Suryabanshi Suraj said, Our government is dedicated to the overall development of sports and sportspersons in the state. By focusing on grassroots talent, we aim to create a strong foundation for future athletes. The CM Trophy provides an excellent platform for the young players to showcase their skills and achieve excellence.

Notably, This championship will be conducted in phases. The initial phase involves competitions among various football clubs in the districts. Following this, 31 teams, including one from Bhubaneswar and 30 from the districts, will advance to the cluster level stage. In the cluster level stage, these teams will be divided into four clusters based in Sambalpur, Bhubaneswar, Jeypore and Keonjhar.

The semi-final matches are scheduled to be held in Jeypore and Rourkela, with the grand finale set to take place in Bhubaneswar.

Minister Suraj expressed confidence that the participants will perform exceptionally and bring pride and glory to the state.

It is pertinent to mention here that, this initiative underscores Odisha’s vision of strengthening grassroots sport talents, ensuring that young athletes receive the necessary support to shine on global platform.