Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has expressed pride in Odisha’s growing role in global sports diplomacy, particularly through a new partnership with New Zealand Rugby.
In a social media post, CM Majhi stated that the rugby coaching initiative in Bhubaneswar reaffirms Odisha’s emergence as a globally recognized hub for sporting excellence. He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also highlighted this development. Describing the collaboration as a landmark initiative, the Chief Minister said the partnership with New Zealand Rugby aligns with the state’s progressive vision to promote international cooperation in sports.
“The partnership brings together world-class expertise with Odisha’s advanced sports infrastructure,” Majhi said, adding that it will significantly boost the state’s ‘Padia to Podium’ initiative. This programme aims to identify talent at the grassroots level and prepare athletes to excel on the international stage.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to developing world-class sports infrastructure, nurturing excellence, and empowering the youth of Odisha to bring pride to the state and glory to the nation.
“Odisha is proud to be at the forefront of a defining chapter in global sports diplomacy. As Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji rightly highlighted, the rugby coaching initiative in Bhubaneswar reaffirms Odisha’s emergence as a globally recognized hub for sporting excellence. This landmark partnership with New Zealand Rugby reflects our progressive vision to foster international collaboration in sports. By bringing together world-class expertise with Odisha’s advanced sports ecosystem, we are accelerating our ‘Padia to Podium’ initiative, identifying grassroots talent and preparing the next generation of athletes to compete with distinction on the global stage. We remain steadfast in our focus to build world-class sporting infrastructure, nurture excellence, and empower our youth to bring greater pride to Odisha and glory to India”, read CM Majhi’s post on his X handle.
