By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR:As India starts preparations to host the 2036 Olympics, we have to make efforts from 2026 itself so that the talented children of Sambalpur and Odisha win medals in the world. This was said by Union Education Minister and Sambalpur MP Shri Dharmendra Pradhan while inaugurating the ‘MCL Hirakud International Half Marathon – 2026’ at the historic Hirakud in Sambalpur on Sunday.
He said that this marathon is not just a race, but a strong commitment. This year, more than 10,000 sportsmen and youth from India and abroad participated in this grand marathon organized on the high earthen embankment of Hirakud. Thousands of talented runners from Odisha, other states and union territories and abroad participated in it. The competition was mainly divided into four different categories namely 21 km, 10 km, 5 km and 1.5 km.
This race, organized in the pleasant atmosphere of Hirakud, has created a new chapter in the sports history of Sambalpur. International players, especially from countries like Ethiopia and Nigeria, have also participated in it and performed their best and have been awarded. Plans are being made to continue this in the coming days. On this occasion, he congratulated all the sportspersons and youth who participated in the marathon and expressed his gratitude to the organizers Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, the District Administration, the Government of India and the Government of Odisha.
He said, today’s marathon is fulfilling the call of our dear Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s ‘Fit India Movement’. When a youth runs, the entire society runs and the country runs on the path of progress. Running is very important to keep every citizen healthy. This marathon not only shows physical fitness, but also the true sportsman spirit of a sportsman. This grand event will be a powerful means of giving Sambalpur a new and unique identity on the world tourism map.
Sambalpur’s identity today is not limited to agriculture alone; it has spread from agriculture to culture and from tourism to sports. Through this international marathon, tourists from every corner of the world will get the opportunity to experience our rich Sambalpuri costumes, art and unique hospitality. With the blessings of Maa Samaleswari, this effort will further strengthen the prestige of Odisha and India at the international level. Finally, he said that while India is preparing for the 2036 Olympics, the talented children of Odisha need to prepare themselves from 2026 itself. He expressed hope that with the blessings of Maa Samaleswari, the children of Sambalpur and Odisha will make the country proud by winning Olympic medals in the coming days.
Notably, this marathon saw participation from various states and union territories of India including Odisha. Outside the state, runners from West Bengal, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Delhi, Karnataka, Punjab, Assam, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jammu and Kashmir displayed their sporting talent. The international scene of this marathon was quite impressive, in which runners from foreign countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Zambia, Congo, Yemen and Syria participated. Shri Pradhan awarded the winning contestants.
Odisha Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Minister Shri Ravi Nayak, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Shri Suresh Pujari, Higher Education, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Shri Suraj Suryavansi, Bargarh MP Shri Pradeep Purohit, Sambalpur MLA Jai Narayan Mishra, Angul MLA Pratap Chandra Pradhan, Pallahara MLA Ashok Mohanty, Chendipada MLA Agasti Behera, Jharsuguda MLA Tankadhar Tripathi along with Padma Shri winners and dignitaries were present at this grand event. On this occasion, Shri Pradhan expressed his happiness by boating in the Mahanadi of Hirakud.
