Bhubaneswar: Top Indian amateur golfer Kashika Misra was honored at a special felicitation ceremony held at the Bhubaneswar Golf Club on June 3, 2026. The event celebrated her landmark achievements on both national and international stages, highlighting her ascent as the premier talent in the country’s amateur golfing circuit.
Ms.Misra, who established herself as India’s number one amateur women golfer in 2025, has put together an impressive resume that includes victories in the Indian Golf Union national tournaments. Her consistent form on the domestic circuit earned her a coveted spot on the national team, where she has proudly represented India at elite international events. These include the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific, the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation tournament, and high-profile R&A events held in Wales, United Kingdom.
A significant force behind Ms.Misra’s rising international career is the corporate backing of the MGM Group, an Odisha-based conglomerate that provides the necessary financial resources and stability for her to compete globally. Bhubaneswar Golf Club President Shri Asit Tripathy lauded her and wished bright future, while honoring the ace woman golfer.
Speaking on the impact of corporate backing in the state, sports officials noted that the continuous development of local athletes relies heavily on robust public-private ecosystems. The corporate philosophy of MGM Group has been anchored in this approach under the leadership of its Chairman and Managing Director, Shri Pankaj Lochan Mohanty.
Shri Pankaj Lochan Mohanty is a prominent Indian industrialist, sports administrator, and philanthropist based in Odisha. Serving as the Chairman and Managing Director of the MGM Group, his leadership spans several critical sectors of the regional economy, including sustainable mining, integrated steel production, and the hospitality industry. Under his stewardship, the flagship enterprise MGM Minerals Limited has diversified its footprint across the state, expanding its operations into textiles, apparel, renewable energy, and healthcare, while significantly contributing to state revenue and local employment generation.
Beyond his industrial endeavors, Shri Mohanty is widely recognized for his institutional contributions to business leadership and corporate advocacy. He serves as the Chairman of the Odisha State Development Council of ASSOCHAM (The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India). In this capacity, he actively leads policy discussions and strategic initiatives aimed at accelerating industrial manufacturing, strengthening corporate collaboration, and driving inclusive economic growth across Odisha.
In the arena of sports administration, Shri Mohanty plays an equally transformative role. He serves as the President of the Odisha Cricket Association, having been elected unopposed to the position. His tenure has focused heavily on the modernization of sports infrastructure in the state, including massive upgrades to the historic Barabati Stadium, and the commercial promotion of regional tournaments like the Odisha Pro T20 League to create viable professional pathways for local players.
His vision for athletic development extends across multiple sports disciplines and grassroot levels. Through the corporate social responsibility arm of the MGM Group, he has consistently financed athletic initiatives ranging from elite professional competitions to specialized inclusivity programs, such as sponsoring the Odisha Deaf Cricket Association with comprehensive gear and travel support. Furthermore, he established the MGM School of Sports, a high-performance residential cricket academy on the outskirts of Cuttack. By partnering with global knowledge networks and premier coaching institutions, the academy provides state-of-the-art training, international-standard turf grounds, indoor arenas, and sports science facilities to groom the next generation of sporting talent from Odisha.
The felicitation ceremony at the Bhubaneswar Golf Club brought together prominent sports administrators, club members, and local golf enthusiasts. Attendees gathered to applaud Misra’s historic achievements and to reinforce the collective commitment to transforming Odisha into a major nursery for global sporting talent.