Orissa Mountaineers Association begins its activities

BHUBANESWAR: Though mountaineers from Odisha have reached daunting heights of success with determination and courage over the years, the state has never had a full-fledged association that could instill the spirit of adventure among children and youth. Realising this gap, three adventure maniacs and sports enthusiasts from Bhubaneswar have come together to form Orissa Mountaineering Association, the first dedicated forum of mountaineers in the state.

The association inaugurated its functions on Wednesday in the presence of Minister of State for Sports Suryabanshi Suraj, National Rifle Association of India president and Balangir MP Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo and SN Mohanty Group managing director Prabodh Mohanty.

Sponsored by Sports Science India (SSI), the main objective of the association is to promote adventure and related activities at the grassroots level and introduce youngsters to the thrill of adventure. It also aims to wean youngsters off gadget addiction and bring them closer to nature.

The organisation was founded by sports medicine expert and founder of Sports Science India, Dr Sarthak Patnaik, in collaboration with mountaineer and fitness consultant Gayatri Mohanty and Dwiti Krishna Mishra, a Navy veteran and sports enthusiast.

“We will be organising training camps, expeditions and adventure events aimed at teaching outdoor survival, first aid, navigation and environmental protection. Through our efforts, we will strive to make adventure sports more accessible and inclusive for everyone,” Dr Patnaik said at the inauguration ceremony.

Explaining the need for such an association, Gayatri stressed the importance of developing a connection with nature. “We want adventure sports to be inclusive and accessible to every person,” Mishra said.