Bhubaneswar: SNM Group, a leading Mining and Industry Conglomerate has solidified its position as an industry leader deeply committed to nurturing India’s sporting ecosystem.
Reaffirming its commitment for nurturing India’s sporting ecosystem, SNM Group, in collaboration with SSI and the Department of Sports and Youth Services, Government of Odisha, successfully organised the two-day third edition of the SSI National Sports Awards Ceremony 2025, a Bone Density Screening Camp for 150 state athletes, and a Sports Science Conclave & National Sports Quiz.
The initiatives were held as part of SNM Group’s continued support to strengthen grassroots sports and accelerate the integration of sports science into athlete development pathways in Odisha and across the nation.
Day 1 at Kalinga Stadium: Awards Ceremony & Bone Density Camp : The first day, hosted at the iconic Kalinga Stadium, brought together athletes, coaches, and sports administrators for the SSI National Sports Awards 2025, celebrating excellence and rising talent across multiple disciplines.
As many as 24 awards were presented to national and international level athletes, most of whom were Olympians, Arjuna Awardees. Interestingly, three legends of shot put—Shakti Singh, two-time Olympian and Asian Athletics Championship gold medalist; Olympian OP Singh Karhana—also a former Asian champion and national record holder, Samardeep Singh Gill, were on the same stage to receive SSI awards.
Three players from India’s women’s Ice Hockey Team that won the historic bronze at the 2025 IIHF Women’s Asia Cup in Al-Ain, UAE, attended the event along with Ice Hockey Association of India (IHAI) secretary general Harjinder Singh. They narrated how challenging it was to break the ceilings and win a medal in the sport as infrastructural challenges often pose hurdles for Ice Hockey players in the tropical country. The team received the SSI Paika team award.
The Lifetime Achievement award was given to Shakti Singh, table tennis legend, Sharath Kamal, and the colossus of domestic cricket, Wasim Jaffer. Swimmer Sajan Prakash, ace shuttler Ayush Shetty, national record-breaking hurdler and one of India’s fastest-rising track stars, Jyothi Yarraji, sprinter Animesh Kujur, hockey star Deepa Grace Ekka were also honoured, among others. The best coach award was given to Olympian and former archer Rahul Banerjee, C Ajith Kumar and Hariprasad Pattanayak. Tata Steel (Sports) received the SSI Award For Sports Development and National Rifle Association of India got the SSI Best Federation Award.
Odisha Chief Secretary, Shri Manoj Ahuja—who was the chief guest at the event—recollected his stint as the state’s sports secretary back in 2012 to share anecdotes about his fondness for sports at the award ceremony. The senior bureaucrat, who shared the dais with Dr. Vijay, Director of Sports, Transport Commission Amitabh Thakur and Hockey India President, Dilip Tirkey, hailed the SSI Sports National Award 2025 recipients as the true ‘guests of honour’ for the evening.
SSI founder, Dr Sarthak Patnaik, narrated his vision of strengthening grassroot sports in India to the audience. Taking a cue from the Bollywood movie Swadesh, Patnaik shared that he returned from abroad after completing his specialization in sports science to give back to the country. He expressed his desire to help India in every possible way in clinching more Olympic medals.
As part of the event, SNM Group and SSI conducted a comprehensive Bone Density Screening Camp for 150 state athletes, reinforcing the organisation’s commitment to athlete welfare, injury prevention, and scientific training methods essential for long-term performance.
Day 2 at Hotel Lyfe: Sports Science Conclave & Sports Quiz : On the second day, Hotel Lyfe served as the venue for the Sports Science Conclave, where sport scientists, physiologists, coaches, and experts discussed emerging technologies, recovery innovations, and performance optimisation strategies.
The conclave was held alongside a vibrant Sports Quiz for students, aimed at cultivating awareness, curiosity, and enthusiasm for sports among youth participants. As many as 50 teams from several Odisha schools had participated and were felicitated by Olympian OP Singh Karhana. The competition was expertly hosted by the renowned Quiz Master, Kamal Rathi.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Prabodh Mohanty, Managing Director, SNM Group, said: “India’s ambition for the Olympics 2036 and Commonwealth Games 2030 can only be realised when every stakeholder — corporates, government bodies, sports institutions, and communities — unite with a shared purpose. At SNM Group, we firmly believe that sports science, athlete welfare, and grassroots empowerment are the pillars of future success. Our motto has always been ‘to better the quality of life for all’, and supporting sports is one of the strongest pathways to achieve this. We will continue contributing in every possible way to boost sporting culture and build the infrastructure our athletes deserve.”
SNM Group is one of Odisha’s leading industry houses with a diversified portfolio and a strong commitment to social responsibility. The organisation continues to play a transformative role in promoting sports, wellness, and youth development — empowering communities and enabling athletes to excel at the national and global stage as part of its CSR activities.