Bhubaneswar: MGM Group Of Industries has established itself as a cornerstone of sports development in Odisha through a multi-dimensional approach that combines infrastructure building, individual athlete sponsorship, and institutional leadership.
MGM Group under the visionary leadership of Shri Pankaj Lochan Mohanty, has built a legacy of multi-sport excellence in Odisha. By combining large-scale infrastructure projects with targeted support for elite individual athletes, the group has become a driving force behind the state’s transformation into a national sports hub.
Shri Pankaj Lochan Mohanty currently serves as the President of the Odisha Cricket Association, a role that aligns the corporate vision of MGM Group with the official growth of cricket in the region. His leadership has focused on professionalizing the sport and improving grassroots reach. The flagship initiative in this sector is the MGM School of Sports located at Kapila Prasad in Cuttack. This high-performance academy operates as a residential center for aspiring cricketers and has received accolades such as the Best Sports Academy award at the ASSOCHAM Odisha Education Excellence Awards.
The academy features international-standard facilities including a cricket stadium, indoor practice arenas, and a high-tech gymnasium. To ensure global standards of training, MGM School of Sports has entered into a strategic partnership with Coaching Beyond, an academy founded by former Indian coaches Ravi Shastri, R. Sridhar, and Bharat Arun. This collaboration brings elite technical expertise to local players in the 16 to 19 age group.
Empowering Blind and Differently-Abled Cricketers MGM Group is a major patron of inclusive sports, ensuring that physical challenges do not limit a player’s potential. In December 2025, Shri Pankaj Lochan Mohanty personally felicitated four remarkable women cricketers from Odisha—Phula Saren, Parvati Marndi, Jamuna Rani Tudu, and Basanti Hansda—who were part of the Indian team that won the first-ever Women’s T20 World Cup Cricket for the Blind in Colombo. Each player was honored with a cash award of ₹25,000 as a gesture of appreciation for bringing pride to the nation.
Beyond this, the group provides continuous support to the Odisha Deaf Cricket Association (ODFA), supplying essential equipment, jerseys, and financial aid to ensure these athletes can compete at the national and zonal levels.
Commitment to Hockey and Collaboration with Dilip Tirkey MGM Group has shown deep respect and support for hockey, the heartbeat of Odisha’s sporting culture. Shri Pankaj Lochan Mohanty maintains a strong collaborative relationship with Padma Shri Dilip Tirkey, the legendary former Indian captain and current President of Hockey India.
In December 2025, Shri Mohanty stood alongside Dilip Tirkey at the Odisha State Museum to inaugurate a special photo exhibition titled Dilip Tirkey and the Spirit of Hockey in Odisha. During the event, Shri Mohanty praised the initiative as a vital source of inspiration for the next generation of hockey players. This partnership highlights MGM Group’s commitment to celebrating hockey legends and supporting the sport’s administration as it prepares for the upcoming Hockey India League.
In Individual and Professional Golf Support, MGM Group has significantly expanded its footprint in the golf circuit by supporting both infrastructure and individual talent. A notable recent achievement is the major sponsorship of Kashika Misra, an 18-year-old amateur golfer who became the first female from Odisha to be ranked India’s No. 1 amateur golfer. The group provides her with the financial resources necessary for international competitions, including the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation championship.
Additionally, the group supports Ankit Padhi, a talented golfer who secured the Best Gross Award at the Bhubaneswar Golf Club Cup. Beyond individual sponsorship, MGM Minerals funded the development of the Tusker Lounge at the Bhubaneswar Golf Club, enhancing the facilities available for the elite golfing community in the state. The group also actively participates in competitive events, with the MGM-sponsored team winning the Corporate Golf Tournament in 2022.
Inclusive and Grassroots Sports Initiatives The group demonstrates a strong commitment to inclusivity by sponsoring the Odisha Deaf Cricket Association. MGM Minerals provided essential kits and jerseys to sixteen players of the East Zone Deaf Cricket Team for the 5th One Day National Zonal Cricket Championship, enabling these athletes to compete at a national level.
At the grassroots level, MGM Group provides financial and material support to district-level sports bodies. This includes the Angul District Cricket Association and various rural sports drives that provide equipment to local schools and community clubs. The group’s CSR wing reported a substantial spend on sports infrastructure and equipment in the 2024-2025 fiscal year, covering a range of activities from volleyball to general athletic training.
Future Developments Under the vision of CMD MGM Group, Shri Pankaj Lochan Mohanty, the group is working toward establishing a new cricket academy in Puri to expand the training footprint across the state. Plans are also underway for the further renovation and modernization of the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, ensuring that Odisha remains a premier destination for national and international sporting events