Bhubaneswar (OT Webdesk): Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi delivered a powerful keynote address today at the prestigious WAVES 2025 – World Audio-Visual & Entertainment Summit, held at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai.
Speaking during the special session titled “Indigenous Sports – From India to the Global Stage,” the Chief Minister emphasised the cultural, social, and global significance of India’s traditional sports.
Drawing from his upbringing in Keonjhar, a tribal-dominated district in Odisha, CM Majhi reflected on his early experiences playing kabaddi and kho-kho. He remarked, “These were more than games; they were expressions of teamwork, resilience, and identity deeply rooted in our communities.”
The address highlighted Odisha’s pioneering role in sports development, particularly concerning indigenous games. Shri Majhi proudly announced that Odisha is the first state in India to establish a dedicated High-Performance Centre for the indigenous sport of kho-kho, in collaboration with AM/NS India. This landmark initiative aims to redefine the narrative surrounding traditional sports by recognising them as professional disciplines deserving of structured training, infrastructure, and innovation.
He also celebrated the success of the Odisha Juggernauts, the only state government-owned franchise in the Ultimate Kho Kho League, which won the league’s inaugural season in 2022. “It stands as a testament to what focused support and strategic investment can achieve,” he added.
WAVES 2025 featured an esteemed panel of speakers, including Pro Kabaddi League Commissioner Anupam Goswami, global kabaddi icon Fazel Atrachali, and indigenous sports advocate Sudhanshu Mittal. The discussion explored how India’s traditional sports can be promoted on international platforms, including the Olympics, with the support of athletes, media, federations, and the government.
Reaffirming Odisha’s commitment to this cause, Shri Majhi stated, “We will continue to work with the Government of India and global federations to ensure that indigenous sports receive their rightful place on the world stage. As we say in Odisha—Khela re sanskruti achhi, sanskruti re asmita achhi.” (In our games lies our culture, and in our culture lies our identity.)
The Government of Odisha continues to lead by example in integrating sports with youth empowerment, social development, and cultural preservation. WAVES 2025 marks another significant milestone in that journey.
