- ~Three new centres inaugurated in Nabarangpur, Jagatsinghpur, and Subarnapur districts~
- ~Total number of grassroot centres go up to 28~
Bhubaneswar, September 2, 2023:Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre (ONTHHPC), which also runs a well-knit Grassroots Hockey program in the state of Odisha, has launched three new centers in Nabarangpur, Jagatsinghpur, and Subarnapur districts.
The virtual inauguration ceremony was graced by the former Indian Hockey Team captain, Padma Shri Dr. Dilip Tirkey, in the presence of Shri Siddhartha Das, IAS, Director of Sports – Department of Sports & Youth Services – Government of Odisha, Rajiv Seth, Project Director of ONTHHPC, alongside senior officials of the three districts.
Guided by the expertise of the Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High-Performance Centre, known for shaping elite-class hockey players, these centers will play a pivotal role in nurturing emerging talent.
Expressing his happiness about the new centers, Padma Shri Dr. Dilip Tirkey said, ‘These grassroots training programs play an instrumental role in developing players to national and international standards. The Honourable Chief Minister of Odisha and the Sports & Youth Services Department of Odisha have been promoting hockey in the state, and these grassroots centers will provide players with proper training, enabling them to derive maximum benefits from it.’
Out of the coaches of the three new centers, two are ex-HPC female athletes, reflecting the principle of backward integration.
Thanking the administration of Nabarangpur, Jagatsinghpur, and Subarnapur districts, ONTHHPC for their support, Shri Siddhartha Das, IAS, Director of Sports – Department of Sports & Youth Services – Government of Odisha, said, ‘The grassroots center coordinators, the coaches, and the players will definitely define the future of hockey in this state. The expansion of these centers signifies a promising future for hockey in Odisha, nurturing a new generation of talent. I feel that all the stakeholders at the block level, including concerned officers, coaches, teachers, and parents, are the most important link to the success of this program.’
Established in 2019 through collaboration between the Government of Odisha, Tata Steel, and Tata Trusts, Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High-Performance Centre (ONTHHPC) is operated from Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. The HPCs currently host a cohort of 3000 cadets, chosen meticulously from state and national talent pools, from both genders. They receive world-class facilities and training, refining their skills for international competitions, with essential infrastructure commendably provided by the Government of Odisha and expertly managed by ONTHHPC.
Beyond its high-performance role, the HPC also promotes grassroots hockey across 12 districts in Odisha, supervising 28 operational grassroots centers, including 20 Astro turfs and 8 grass pitch centers.
