Induction Ceremony for Football Talents Selected Under CM Trophy-2025 Held at Kalinga Stadium

Bhubaneswar | January 2026 : The Department of Sports and Youth Services, Government of Odisha, organized the induction ceremony for football talents selected through the CM Trophy-2025 at the Kalinga Stadium today. Shri Suryabanshi Suraj, Hon’ble Minister for Sports and Youth Services, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, welcoming and congratulating the budding footballers.

During the ceremony, the Minister briefed the athletes on the various facilities and support systems being provided by the State Government. He called upon the young players to strive for excellence and bring laurels to the state and the nation through their performance on the field.

“I envision you representing Odisha at the national level and eventually carving a unique identity for yourselves and India on the international and world stages,” said Minister Shri Suraj. “If you can achieve success like legends such as Sunil Chhetri, Bhaichung Bhutia, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Lionel Messi, then the dreams of our Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, the 4.5 crore people of Odisha, and the Sports Department will be fulfilled. Your dedication will put Odisha on the global sports map.”

Over 6,000 budding players and 284 teams from across rural and remote areas of the state participated.The initiative targets Under-15 (U-15) children to identify and nurture hidden talent, making it one of the largest talent hunt platforms in the country. Initially, 285 talents were identified. Following physical and biological screening, the top 65 players were finalized for elite training.

Under the guidance of CM Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, these selected players will be enrolled in the FIFA Academy, Sports Hostels, and the Sambalpur Football Academy to receive high-quality professional coaching. The Minister emphasized that this revolutionary scheme, driven by the motto “Prativa Aneka, Lakshya Eka” (Many Talents, One Goal), serves as a milestone in empowering the next generation of athletes. Shri Tankadhar Tripathy, MLA Jharsuguda and President of the Football Association of Odisha (FAO), joined the event virtually to encourage the athletes. The ceremony commenced with a welcome address by Shri Sachin Ramachandra Jadhav, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Sports and Youth Services. Other dignitaries present included Dr. Yedulla Vijay, Director of Sports, and Shri Abhijit Paul, Secretary of the Football Association of Odisha.

Avinash Sagar