Nabarangpur: Dec, 05: The MP Sports Festival 2025 has been inaugurated at Dahana in Nandahandi Block of Nabarangpur district. Hon’ble Lok Sabha MP Balabhadra Majhi attended as the chief guest and formally inaugurated the festival.
From the Shiva Temple at Dahana, the MP and other dignitaries began a procession after lighting the ceremonial torch and reached the venue of the programme.
On the stage, several distinguished guests were present, including:
Hon’ble Kotpad MLA Rupu Bhatra
District Collector Dr. Maheshwar Swain
Additional District Collector (Revenue) Bishwalit Barman
Zilla Parishad Member (Zone 1, Nandahandi) Arun Mishra
Social worker Kunj Bihari Das
MP Representative Somanath Pujari
Jyoti Ranjan Kangsa
BDO Khirod Chandra Sahu
MP Sports Coordination Officer Rameshwar Jena
Dahana Sarpanch Kamala Pujari, among others.
District Sports Association Secretary Arjun Tripathy conducted the meeting.
This MP Sports Festival, which began on 21 September, will conclude with a valedictory function on 25 December. So far, 4,935 participants from the 21 blocks of the Nabarangpur Lok Sabha constituency have registered for various competitions.
The festival includes sports such as football, volleyball, cricket, long jump, high jump, running, kabaddi, and kho-kho.
On 25 December, a mini marathon will also be organised in Nabarangpur town, the MP announced. In his address, the MP emphasised that sports are essential for maintaining both physical and mental health, and that the festival will play a significant role in discovering hidden sporting talent.
By 20 December, the panchayat and block-level competitions will conclude. Those who qualify will take part in the district-level competitions to be held in Nabarangpur on 21, 22, and 23 December. On 25 December, the district-level MP Sports Festival will be held, and meritorious participants will be felicitated. The event will also feature an address by the Hon’ble Prime Minister.
During the occasion, a 10-over cricket match was inaugurated by the MP between the teams of Bahna and Mehina Gram Panchayats, where Bahna GP team won by 5 runs.
Many officials and citizens attended the programme, including District Sports Officer Sushanta Kumar Nayak, District Information & Public Relations Officer Manoj Kumar Behera, departmental officials, Nandahandi block staff, sports association members, public representatives, school students, media personnel, and villagers of Dahana.