Odisha has taken another major stride towards strengthening its sporting ecosystem with the launch of the CM Trophy Championship, a statewide grassroots tournament aimed at identifying and nurturing young talent.
The initiative, led by the Sports and Youth Services Department, aligns with the state’s vision of “Padia to Podium”—developing champions from the grassroots to the highest levels of competition.
The multi-discipline championship will be held in four sports—football, volleyball, kabaddi and kho-kho—and is expected to draw participation from more than 32,000 young athletes across Odisha. Registration for the tournament will remain open from January 7 to January 14, 2026.
The CM Trophy will be contested in both boys’ and girls’ categories, underlining the state’s emphasis on inclusivity and equal opportunity in sports. Age-group events include U-15 football, U-14 volleyball, U-16 kabaddi and U-14 kho-kho.
The tournament will follow a multi-tier competitive structure, beginning at the grassroots level and progressing through district and zonal rounds, before culminating in the state-level championship. Based on performance, 10 boys’ teams and six girls’ teams will be selected at the district level in each discipline.
Nearly 500 teams are expected to compete across various stages. The championship will be conducted in two phases, with the initial rounds scheduled between January and February, while the second phase, including the semi-finals and finals, is slated for May 2026.
State Sports Associations will handle technical responsibilities such as player registration, trials, officiating and match conduct, while the Sports and Youth Services Department will oversee the overall planning and execution.
With its wide reach and structured format, the CM Trophy Championship is being seen as a key talent-scouting platform that could play a crucial role in shaping the next generation of athletes from Odisha’s sporting fields.
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