September 8th 2024.
The state of Odisha is known for its lively sports culture, which is as diverse and vibrant as its rich heritage. From traditional games to globally recognized sports, the state has produced talented athletes who have made remarkable contributions on both national and international stages. In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the key sports in Odisha, highlight notable athletes, and explore the state's impact on the world of sports.
One of the most popular games in the world, football, holds a special place in the hearts of many athletes, even those in other sports. Not only is it a great way to stay fit, but it also enjoys a massive following in rural areas. With the largest viewership among all sports, football has a long and interesting history. While its exact origins are unclear, it is believed to have originated in China and evolved into its modern form in England during the 19th century.
As various forms of the game were played in public schools in England, the need for standardized rules was recognized, leading to the formation of the Football Association in 1863. This association established the first official rules of the game, paving the way for the modern form of football that we know today. Over the years, many tournaments have been organized for this beloved sport, but the FA Cup, established in 1871-72, remains the oldest football tournament. In India, the Durand Cup, founded in 1888, holds the title of the oldest football tournament.
Odisha has a strong presence in football, especially in the women's category. The Odisha women's team has achieved great success, winning several national championships, including the most recent 37th National Games in Goa against Manipur. In fact, the team has won three gold medals in total, with the first two being in 2007 and 2011. They have also won silver and bronze medals in other national games. The state proudly boasts of prominent players like Sradhanjali Samantaray, Ranjita Mohanty, Pinky Bompal Magar, Sasmita Mallik, Alochana Senapati, Gitanjali Khuntia, Gayatri Mallick, Manisa Panna, Pyari Xaxa, and Jabamani Tudu, among others, who have made significant contributions to Indian football.
One of the newest additions to Odisha's sports scene is the Odisha FC, representing the state in the Indian Super League. The team is based in Bhubaneswar, with the Kalinga Stadium serving as their home ground. This stadium also hosted matches for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in 2022, putting Odisha on the global football map. In the past, major football events in the state were hosted at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.
Another popular sport that has made its mark in Odisha is swimming. This Olympic sport includes five events: swimming, artistic swimming, marathon swimming, water polo, and diving. Its roots can be traced back to the 1896 Olympics, held in Athens, where competitions were conducted in open water. Over the years, swimming has evolved, with events like artistic swimming and marathon swimming being added to the Olympics.
The first swimming pool was used in the 1908 London Olympics, and women made their debut in the sport in 1912. With the inclusion of artistic swimming in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, it has become a popular sport with strong artistic elements. Interestingly, the 2024 Olympics will see men competing in this event for the first time. Marathon swimming, a 10km event, was added to the Olympics in 2008 and is usually held outdoors. Water polo, the only team event in aquatics, has been a part of the Olympics since 1900. Diving, another event in swimming, was introduced in the 1904 Olympics and includes 10-meter and 3-meter springboard events, along with synchronized diving for both men and women.
Although Odisha swimmers have not yet made a significant impact at the senior level, there is hope for a bright future, especially with young athletes like Pratyasa Ray, Mannata Mishra, Shristi Upadhyay, and Sonia Patel. The state's women's team, consisting of these talented swimmers, won a silver medal in the relay event at the National Games held in Goa. The Kalinga Stadium complex now boasts a world-class indoor aquatic center, which successfully hosted the 39th Sub-Junior and 49th National Junior Aquatic Championships in August 2023. Other parts of the state, including KIIT and Sambalpur, also have advanced facilities for this sport.
Athletics, another popular sport in Odisha, includes a variety of events like sprints, long-distance running, high jump, long jump, javelin throw, shot put, discus throw, and pole vault. It has been a part of the Olympics since 1896, with the number of events gradually increasing over the years. What started with only 12 events in 1896 has now reached 48 events in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, with an equal number of events for men and women. Some events have been discontinued, while new ones have been added, and rules have been modified for certain events.
Many athletes from Odisha have made their mark on the national and international levels, setting national records in their respective events. Athletes like Rachita Mistry, Anuradha Biswal, Dutee Chand, Amiya Kumar Mallick, Pranati Mishra, and Srabani Nanda have all made significant contributions to the world of athletics. On the international stage, javelin thrower Kishore Kumar Jena has made a name for himself, competing against heavyweight athletes from around the world.
In the past, athletics events were held at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, but with the availability of world-class facilities at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar now has the capability to host international competitions. In 2017, the state successfully organized the Asian Athletics Championships, showcasing its ability to host such prestigious events.
Tennis, one of the most popular racket sports globally, has also seen significant growth in Odisha, thanks to the efforts of the state government. The Kalinga Stadium now has international-standard tennis courts, and many talented players from Odisha are preparing to compete at national and international levels. Tennis was a part of the Summer Olympic program from 1896 to 1924, and after being a demonstration sport in 1968 and 1984, it became a permanent fixture in the Olympics in 1988. The sport also holds four Grand Slam tournaments annually.
The state of Odisha is well-known for its vibrant sports culture, which is as diverse as its rich heritage. From traditional games to globally recognized sports, this state has produced exceptional athletes who have made significant contributions on both national and international stages. In this article, we will delve into the key sports in Odisha, highlight notable athletes, and explore the state's impact on the sports world.
Football has always been one of the most popular games in the world, with many athletes having a strong connection to it. Even athletes from other sports play football to improve their fitness. Its popularity is not limited to urban areas, as it is widely played in rural areas as well. In fact, football enjoys the largest viewership among all sports.
The exact origins of football may be unclear, but it is believed to have originated in China. The modern form of the sport that we know today was developed in England during the 19th century. At the time, different public schools had their own versions of the game, each with its own set of rules. In 1863, the need for standardized rules led to the formation of the Football Association, which established the first official rules of the game.
Today, there are many football tournaments organized worldwide, but the oldest one is the FA Cup. It was first played during the 1871-72 season. In India, the Durand Cup, established in 1888, is the oldest football tournament.
Odisha has had remarkable success in football, especially in the women's category. The Odisha women's team has won several national championships, including the most recent 37th National Games in Goa against Manipur. This victory marked their third gold medal win, with previous wins in 2007 and 2011. The team has also won silver medals in the 2015 and 2022 games, as well as a bronze in the 2002 games.
Prominent players like Sradhanjali Samantaray, Ranjita Mohanty, Pinky Bompal Magar, Sasmita Mallik, Alochana Senapati, Gitanjali Khuntia, and Gayatri Mallick, have all made significant contributions to Indian football. Other notable players such as Manisa Panna, Pyari Xaxa, and Jabamani Tudu have also left their mark in the sport. The rise of these talented players has put Odisha on the map in the world of football.
Odisha FC, representing the state in the Indian Super League, is currently based in Bhubaneswar, with the Kalinga Stadium serving as their home ground. This stadium also hosted matches for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in 2022. Previously, major football events in the state were held at Cuttack's Barabati Stadium.
Swimming, also known as aquatics, is an Olympic sport that includes five events: swimming, artistic swimming, marathon swimming, water polo, and diving. The sport made its debut in the 1896 Olympics, held in Athens, where competitions were conducted in open water. Later, it was organized in the Seine River during the 1900 Paris Olympics and in a small lake in St. Louis in 1904. It was not until the London Olympics in 1908 that the first swimming pool was used. Women first participated in swimming in 1912.
Artistic swimming, a sport with strong artistic elements, became popular in the 1930s and was included in the Olympics for the first time in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Initially, only women participated in this event, but in 2024, men also competed for the first time. Marathon swimming, a 10 km event, was included in the Olympics in 2008 and is usually held outdoors. Water polo, the only team event in aquatics, was first included in the Olympics in 1900. Diving, another event in aquatics, was introduced in the 1904 Olympics and includes the 10-meter springboard, 3-meter springboard, and synchronized diving events for both men and women.
At the senior level, Odisha swimmers have not made a significant impact nationally or internationally. However, there is hope for a bright future with junior athletes like Pratyasa Ray, Mannata Mishra, Shristi Upadhyay, and Sonia Patel. In fact, the Odisha women's team, consisting of these athletes, won a silver medal in the relay event at the National Games held in Goa.
The Kalinga Stadium complex now boasts a world-class indoor aquatic center, which successfully hosted the 39th Sub-Junior and 49th National Junior Aquatic Championships in August 2023. Other advanced facilities for this sport can also be found in KIIT and Sambalpur.
Athletics, which includes a variety of events such as sprints, long-distance running, high jump, long jump, javelin throw, shot put, discus throw, and pole vault, has been a part of the Olympics since 1896. The number of events has gradually increased over the years, from 12 in 1896 to 48 in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Paris Games also featured the same 48 events, with 24 for men, 23 for women, and one mixed-team event.
Some events that were part of the Olympics have been discontinued, while new events have been added. Rules for events like long jump, high jump, and javelin throw have also been changed. Many athletes from Odisha have made their mark at the national and international levels, such as Rachita Mistry, Anuradha Biswal, Dutee Chand, Amiya Kumar Mallick, Pranati Mishra, and Srabani Nanda. On the international scene, javelin thrower Kishore Kumar Jena has made a name for himself, competing against heavyweight athletes from around the world in championships and the Asian Games.
Previously, athletics events in Odisha were held at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. However, with the availability of world-class facilities at the Kalinga Stadium, it is now possible to host international competitions in Bhubaneswar. In 2017, Odisha successfully organized the Asian Athletics Championships, showcasing the state's capability to host such prestigious events.
Tennis, one of the most popular racket sports in the world, has also seen significant growth in Odisha thanks to the efforts of the state government. The Kalinga Stadium now has international-standard tennis courts, and many talented players from Odisha are preparing to compete at national and international levels. Tennis was a part of the Summer Olympic program from 1896 to 1924, and has been a permanent fixture since 1988. Four Grand Slam tournaments are held annually in this sport.
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