Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has extended heartfelt congratulations to nine talented young Odia sportspersons from Odisha who have earned selection in the Indian Junior Men’s National Hockey Team for the upcoming tour of Belgium.
The players are Anmol Ekka, Adrohit Ekka, Rohit Kulu, Mukesh Toppo, Vivek Lakra, Sanjit Tirki, Prashant Barla, Rittik Lakra, and Aryyan Khes.
In a post on his official X handle, CM Majhi praised the young athletes, stating that their success highlights Odisha’s rich hockey heritage and serves as a shining example of the state government’s ‘From Padia to Podium’ vision, which aims to nurture grassroots sporting talent and place Odisha on the global sports map.
“Nine talented young Odia sportspersons from Odisha who have secured spots in the Indian Junior Men’s National Hockey Team for the Belgium tour—Anmol Ekka, Adrohit Ekka, Rohit Kulu, Mukesh Toppo, Vivek Lakra, Sanjit Tirki, Prashant Barla, Rittik Lakra, and Aryyan Khes—my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes,” the Chief Minister wrote.
He further added, “The success of these young stars of ours is a reflection of Odisha’s rich hockey culture and the finest proof of our government’s ‘From Padia to Podium’ vision in establishing the state’s grassroots sporting talents on the global stage. May this invincible youthful strength from Odisha achieve victory and glory in the international sporting arena and make the entire nation proud—this is my heartfelt wish.”
Odisha has long been regarded as a powerhouse of Indian hockey, producing numerous national and international players. The selection of these nine youngsters is being seen as a significant boost to the state’s efforts to revive and strengthen its hockey legacy through systematic training, infrastructure development, and talent identification programmes at the grassroots level.
