\"We are simultaneously organising a national and an international event. The 40th Junior Nationals is already underway at Kalinga Stadium and will conclude on the 14th of this month. At the same time, for the first time, Odisha is hosting the prestigious Asian Table Tennis Team Championships,\u201d the minister said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 40th National Junior Athletics Championships are also being hosted by Odisha, at the same venue in Bhubaneswar, with the joint support of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), Odisha Athletics Association, and the Sports and Youth Services Department, Government of Odisha.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Approximately 2,000 athletes from various states across the country are participating in this national event. Suraj added that organising two major tournaments simultaneously demonstrates Odisha\u2019s increasing competence in sports management, saying:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a matter of pride that we can conduct two big events within the same period. This will enhance our experience in hosting multiple sporting events simultaneously. We are strengthening our team\u2019s capacity \u2014 physically, mentally, and administratively \u2014 to manage and deliver large-scale events efficiently.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The minister further expressed hope that with this experience, Odisha will continue to attract more major national and international sporting events in the future.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a matter of pride that we can conduct two big events within the same period. This will enhance our experience in hosting multiple sporting events simultaneously. We are strengthening our team\u2019s capacity \u2014 physically, mentally, and administratively \u2014 to manage and deliver large-scale events efficiently.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Odisha is hosting its first Asian-level table tennis event, although the state previously hosted the 2019 Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships. Bhubaneswar, which has hosted several major sporting events recently, is also known as India\u2019s sports capital.<\/p>\r\n\r\n