Bhubaneswar: In a significant move towards nurturing Kho Kho talent, the state government Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel (AM/NS India) to establish a Kho Kho HighPerformance Centre (HPC). Gracing the occasion, Chief Minister Patnaik said, “We want to support our indigenous sports like Kho Kho. This partnership with AM/NS to establish the Kho Kho HPC will set a new benchmark for support towards Indian sports.” Chairman of 5T and Nabin Odisha VK Pandian was present during the MoU signing ceremony. Sports and Youth Services Minister Tusharkanti Behera and Secretary Vineel Krishna represented the Sports Department while AM/NS was represented by Keiji Kubota and Suparna Nanda.
Under the agreement, Odisha will contribute towards infrastructure support while AM/NS India will provide experienced and dedicated coaches to elevate the level of Kho Kho in the state. The MoU signing highlighted the commitment of both parties to fostering sporting excellence. A bouquet of HPCs has been established by Odisha at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar and the Kho Kho HPC will be a significant addition to the ecosystem. This is a unique partnership model between a state and a corporate that has proven to produce elite athletes in hockey, football, swimming, athletics, gymnastics, sports science, shooting, weightlifting, and now indigenous sports Kho Kho will scale to glory.
ARINDAM GANGULY, OP