In a significant push to strengthen grassroots sports and nurture future champions, the Odisha government has approved the appointment of 25 coaches across 12 sporting disciplines.
The move, aimed at building a robust sports infrastructure and encouraging talented athletes, comes a decade after the last major recruitment of coaches in the state in 2016.
The Department of Sports and Youth Services initiated the process in 2025 to fill 38 vacant coaching positions across 16 disciplines. After a systematic selection process, 25 candidates have now been chosen, with a notable inclusion of 9 women coaches — a step that further promotes inclusivity and gender balance in sports training.
The newly appointed junior coaches will bring expertise to the following key disciplines:
- Athletics, Hockey, and Swimming
- Weightlifting, Wrestling, and Gymnastics
- Football, Basketball, and Table Tennis
- Fencing, Kabaddi, and Kho-Kho
Prominent selections include:
- Athletics: Chinmay Ranjan Jena, Ashish Kumar Pradhan, Jhillī Barik, Sahid Jamil Rizvi, and Anjana Mukhi
- Hockey: Sujit Lakra, Prafulla Tirkey, Rajesh Oram, Hrushikesh Lakra, and Reshma Lakra
- Weightlifting: Sachin Raut, Laxman Chetti, and Kiran Kumari Digal
- Swimming: Chintan Kumar Nayak and Ishwar Prasad Barik
Other appointees are Shashwat Kumar Swain (Football), Shubhashree Sahu and Prasanna Kumar Nayak (Basketball), Akash Rana (Kho-Kho), Ramesh Chandra Behera (Gymnastics), Biduprava Swain (Kabaddi), Amruta Pritam Padhi (Table Tennis), Karishma Raut (Fencing), Sahil Dwivedi (Volleyball), and Rambha Sahu (Wrestling).
This strategic recruitment is part of the state government’s broader vision to transform Odisha into a premier sports hub. By placing qualified coaches at the district level, authorities aim to identify hidden talent early, provide high-quality coaching from the grassroots, and create a clear pathway for athletes to excel at national and international levels.
Officials believe the initiative will not only revive the sports culture across the state but also produce more competitive athletes capable of bringing laurels to Odisha in the coming years. The state government has reiterated its strong commitment to ensuring every aspiring sportsperson receives world-class training and guidance.
With this decisive step, Odisha is laying a solid foundation for a brighter, more athletic future.
