16th Secretariat Open Badminton Tournament: SSEPD Department’s Bhaskar Raito and Kamalakanta Behera Crowned ‘Veteran Doubles’ Champions

BHUBANESWAR, January 2026: The 16th Secretariat Open Badminton Tournament, organized by the Odisha State Secretariat Badminton Association (OSSBA), concluded successfully at the Secretariat Mini Stadium, Lok Seva Bhawan. The four-day sporting event, held from January 6th to 9th, witnessed intense competition among various departments of the State Government.

Major Achievement for SSEPD Department: In a display of exceptional skill and sportsmanship, representing the Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disability (SSEPD) Department, Shri Bhaskar Raito (Additional Secretary, OAS) and Shri Kamalakanta Behera (OSD, OAS) emerged as the winners in the Veteran Men’s Doubles category.

The victory is particularly significant as they triumphed in a highly competitive field featuring participants from numerous key departments, including: Home, Revenue, Housing & Urban Development (H&UD), Commerce, Works, Health & Family Welfare (H&FW), Finance, MSME, Transport, Women & Child Development (W&CD), E&IT, Tourism, Water Resources, PR, School & Mass Education, Law, Energy, Higher Education, Parliamentary Affairs, General Administration (GA), Public Enterprise, GAPG, and Industries.

Tournament Highlights: The tournament saw massive participation across several categories, showcasing the athletic talent within the state administration: Men’s Singles: 52 participants, Men’s Doubles: 43 pairs, Veteran Men’s Singles: 6 participants, Veteran Men’s Doubles: 6 pairs, Women’s Doubles: 8 pairs, Mixed Doubles: 15 pairs. The event was organized by OSSBA to promote physical fitness and foster a spirit of camaraderie among the officers and staff of the Odisha Secretariat. The winners were honored during the closing ceremony at the Lok Seva Bhawan premises.

Avinash Sagar