Bhubaneswar, Aug. 16 -- The bronze medal winning performance of the Indian men's hockey team and the inspiring performance of the women's team in the recently-concluded Tokyo Olympics has increased the sports enthusiasm in Odisha. It has prompted the State Government to develop sports infrastructure at the grassroots level.

However, the tragic tale of sportspersons of national and international repute languishing in severe poverty continues to crop up and demotivate other aspiring and budding sportspersons in the State to take a full plunge into an uncertain career.

Take the case of former national level hockey player from Rourkela-Santosh Majhi who has been working as a migrant labour to make ends meet. The 26-year-old former full-back...