Athletics along with Hockey are the major sport in the rural hinterland of Odisha. However, the performances of Dutee Chand, Srabani Nanda and Anuradha Biswal have made people sit up and realise the potential that the state has. Several initiatives have been initiated by the State Government to harness the talent especially from the hinterland.

 

Asian Athletics Championship

Athletics received a mighty boost when Odisha stepped in at the last moment to host the Asian Athletics Meet 2017. The event showcased that the state can organise and host an event of international scale with aplomb. The huge success of the event where the crowd got to watch the very best in Asia and the World created a healthy buzz amongst the youngsters which augurs well for the future of the sport.