Odisha and Bihar have agreed to deepen cooperation in the sports sector, focusing on athlete development, sports science, infrastructure management and grassroots talent identification. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting between Odisha Sports and Youth Services Minister Suryabanshi Suraj and Bihar Sports and Industry Minister Shreyasi Singh, who concluded her four-day official visit to Odisha on Sunday.

The meeting, held at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, was attended by Bhupendra Singh Poonia, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Odisha’s Sports and Youth Services Department, along with senior officials from both states.

During the discussions, the two ministers explored opportunities for collaboration through athlete exchange programmes, friendly matches and the sharing of best practices in sports administration. Appreciating Odisha’s world-class sports infrastructure and High-Performance Centres, Shreyasi Singh said Bihar is also rapidly expanding its sporting facilities and proposed regular exchanges between athletes from both states to ensure better utilisation of infrastructure.

She also highlighted Bihar’s initiative to develop facilities for volleyball, basketball, football and cricket practice pitches in every gram panchayat to promote sports at the grassroots level.

Odisha Sports Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said the state is identifying and nurturing young talent through initiatives such as the CM Trophy, which provides opportunities for athletes from rural and grassroots backgrounds. He emphasised the need for stronger coordination among schools, sports institutions and government departments to build a sustainable sports ecosystem.

Sports Secretary Bhupendra Singh Poonia stressed the growing importance of sports science in modern training, suggesting its integration into educational curricula to improve coaching standards and athlete development. Shreyasi Singh also underlined the need to educate athletes on injury prevention, nutrition and recovery.

Suraj welcomed the expansion of the Centre’s Khelo India programme and proposed organising state and district-level brainstorming sessions on the lines of the recent Chintan Shivir. He noted that regular state-level competitions before national events help improve athletes’ performance.

Concluding her visit, Shreyasi Singh praised Odisha’s hospitality, sports model, cultural heritage and infrastructure, describing the state’s approach to sports development as an inspiration for the rest of the country.