Despite Odisha’s significant sports infrastructure and budget, the state secured only 11 medals in the recently held Junior Athletics Championship at Kalinga Stadium. In contrast, Haryana, with a smaller sports foundation and budget, outperformed Odisha, winning 46 medals.
The decline in Odisha’s sports performance has raised concerns. Despite spending billions of rupees, the medal count remains disappointing. While Odisha’s sports budget for 2023-24 was ₹1,210 crore, compared to Haryana’s ₹432 crore, and ₹1,315 crore for 2024-25 against Haryana’s ₹578 crore, the investment has not translated into proportionate results.
Concerns of Experts and Coaches
Sports experts and coaches have expressed dissatisfaction, attributing the declining performance to the lack of grassroots development. The culture of sports hostels, once a stronghold in the state, has diminished. Instead, the focus has shifted towards high-performance centers. Experts argue that building infrastructure and spending large amounts alone will not nurture athletes. The government needs to identify talent at the grassroots level.
Questions on Spending and Priorities
Despite massive expenditure, including constructing grand facilities, Odisha is not producing enough athletes to justify the investment. This has raised questions about whether the funds allocated for sports development are genuinely benefiting athletes or being mismanaged within the department.
