Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre commences its inaugural boys’ resident programme

A total of 31 cadets have been selected for the programme. These players, in the age group of U-17 years, have been chosen from the two-week long selection camp that was held from 17th November to 1st December 2020 in Bhubaneswar and was attended by 100 cadets. While 21 players are from Odisha, seven are from Manipur, two from Uttar Pradesh and one from Assam. The Hockey HPC has also created a standby list of 8 (5 from Odisha) talented players. The HPC has also recommended some players to sports hostels run by the Department of Sports & Youth Services, Govt. of Odisha, in Panposh and Sundargarh. These hostels are also Regional Development Centres and serve as a stepping stone to the Odisha Naval Tata Hockey HPC.

On the occasion, Tusharkanti Behera, Minister for Sports and Youth Services, Electronics & IT, Govt of Odisha, said: "I am delighted to be here for the inauguration of the boys' resident programme at the Odisha Naval Tata Hockey HPC. I congratulate each and every cadet who has successfully cleared the selection trials and has been inducted into our Hockey High Performance Centre. This is an elite opportunity and platform for you to excel in Hockey and you should feel extremely proud. This is the first step towards achieving your sporting dreams. This HPC will play a crucial role and along with experienced and expert coaches will endeavour to groom you all into future national and international players."

The HPC will add few more boys and girls to their existing vacancies post April 2021 for which another set of trials will be planned. At present, 30 girls from Odisha, Jharkhand, Assam, Punjab, Manipur, and Uttar Pradesh are being given education under the Resident Programme.

Earlier, the selection for the boys’ resident programme was undertaken by HPC’s Technical Director Warner Ven Der’Vegt (also the Technical Director of Bovelander Hockey Academy & Hockey Ace Foundation) and P Lakshminarayan, Head Coach, Hockey HPC. Padma Shri Dillip Tirkey had also paid a visit during the final selection trials and gave his valuable inputs to coaches. Dutch legend and HPC’s technical partner Floris Bovelander was consulted and duly involved in the process of final selection though he could not be present due to international travel restrictions. Hockey HPC has also recruited additional qualified coaching & support staff for Boys vertical to ensure dedicated attention to each cadet.

The HPC, established by the Department of Sports & Youth Services, Govt. of Odisha, in partnership with HAF (Hockey Ace Foundation) and under the aegis of Tata Trusts and Tata Steel, was launched on August 13, 2019, by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Naveen Patnaik, along with Mr T. V. Narendran, CEO & MD, Tata Steel.

This elite HPC has been opened in Bhubaneswar as part of the three-pronged Tata Odisha Hockey Programme, a joint initiative of Tata Steel, Tata Trusts and Government of Odisha to nurture sports talent in the State, which is already being hailed as a cradle for the sport.