Odisha selects 25 junior coaches across 12 sports disciplines after decade-long gap
Bhubaneswar, June 11
In a major push to strengthen the state's sports ecosystem and grassroots talent development, the Odisha Government's Sports and Youth Services Department has provisionally selected 25 junior coaches across 12 sports disciplines. The recruitment marks the first such coaching appointment exercise in the state since 2016.
The recruitment process was initiated in 2025 to fill 38 vacant coaching positions across 16 disciplines.
Following a structured selection process, 25 candidates have been selected so far, including nine women coaches, in a move aimed at strengthening Odisha's athlete development framework.
The selected coaches will serve in disciplines including athletics, hockey, swimming, weightlifting, wrestling, gymnastics, football, basketball, table tennis, fencing, kabaddi and kho-kho.
The initiative is expected to improve access to quality coaching, identify emerging talent at the grassroots level and create a stronger pathway for athletes to progress to national and international competitions.
Among those selected are Chinmaya Ranjan Jena, Ashish Kumar Pradhan, Jhilli Barik, Shahid Jamil Rizvi and Anjana Mukhi for athletics; Sujit Lakra, Prafulla Tirkey, Rajesh Oram, Hrushikesh Lakra and Reshma Lakra for hockey, and Sachin Raut, Laxman Chetty and Kiran Kumari Digal for weightlifting.
Coaches have also been selected for football, basketball, gymnastics, kabaddi, table tennis, fencing, wrestling and other disciplines.
The state government said the appointments form part of its broader strategy to strengthen Odisha's sporting infrastructure and establish the state as a leading sports hub.
The move comes amid continued efforts to expand sports development, talent identification and high-performance training programmes across Odisha.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great to see 9 women coaches in the selection! But 38 vacancies and only 25 selected? What happened to the other 13 posts? Hope the state government clarifies the selection criteria and ensures transparency. Our kids deserve the best coaching, not just filling posts.
Finally some action after 2016! Hockey selections looking strong with tribal talent from Sundargarh and Keonjhar. Prafulla Tirkey and Sujit Lakra are well-known grassroots coaches. But where's the focus on indigenous sports like archery? Odisha has Olympic medalists in archery!
Kho-kho and kabaddi selections are interesting - these traditional sports are often ignored in favor of cricket. But will these coaches actually be deployed in rural schools where talent is hidden? Many villages in western Odisha have no proper playgrounds.
A step in the right direction, but hope these coaches are given job security and proper salary. Many talented coaches leave Odisha for other states due to low pay. The state spends crores on infrastructure but neglects human resources. Let's see if this changes.
Nine women coaches - that's 36% representation! 👏 Jhilli Barik and Anjana Mukhi for athletics will inspire many young girls from rural areas. But we need more than just selection - proper training programs, equipment and scholarships for athletes are equally important.
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