The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
ROURKELA, JUNE 16, 2023
“Odisha Hockey will go a long way if children are provided with proper training and other necessary learning environment to play at the right age. We are committed to nurture and nourish young hockey talents in the villages,” said JSP Foundation Chairperson Shallu Jindal, on the occasion of the launch of a mega programme ‘One Step Ahead’ for development and promotion of grassroots hockey across Sundargarh district, here on Friday.
The programme organised by JSP Foundation in collaboration with Dilip Tirkey Sports Research & Development Foundation (DTSRDF) aims to nurture budding hockey talents in Sundargarh district.
“With the joint efforts of JSP Foundation and DTSRDF, we shall transform the quality of grassroots level hockey in the state,” said the JSP Foundation Chairperson.
“It’s not a program for me; it’s a movement, the beginning of a huge transformation in the field of hockey. I am sure this initiative will result in creating national and international players from rural Odisha,” she added.
Launching the programme in virtual mode, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik applauded the efforts of JSP Foundation and DTSRDF, and said that it would further strengthen hockey at grassroots level.
Jindal Steel & Power (JSP) Chairman Naveen Jindal and JSP Foundation Chairperson, in their messages, reiterated their commitment to support grass root hockey and transform the initiative as a movement to build the future of Hockey.
The JSP Chairman appreciated Chief Minister Patnaik and the Odisha Government for promoting Hockey in not just Odisha but across the country. He assured that aligning with the efforts of the Odisha Government, JSP will extend all necessary support for promotion of hockey and development of more rural talents and thereby build and sustain the future of Hockey in India.
“Grassroots hockey is the foundation; if we strengthen it, we will never look back. Our first responsibility will be to find the right talent and train them properly so that not a single good player is left out,” said Dilip Tirkey, who is also the President of Hockey India.
More than 5000 players, under the age of 15 years, from 215 villages joined the launching programme.
State Labour Minister Sarada Prasad Nayak, Skill Development & Technical Education Minister for Priti Ranajn Gharai, Sports & Youth Services Minister Tushar Kanti Behera and DTSRDF Chairman Dilip Tirkey were present in the programme held at Biju Patnaik Hockey Stadium here; and encouraged the players.
The Government of Odisha has set up Astroturf hockey field in each revenue block of Sundargarh for encouraging grass root Hockey. JSP Foundation has provided Hockey kits, Hockey sticks, balls and jerseys to 5000 budding talents across 10 revenue blocks of the district. DTSRDF has mobilised and identified talents at the grassroots.
JSP Foundation felicitated Dominic Toppo with Rs. 25000 for dedicating his life in coaching rural youths and producing 13 international hockey players.
JSP Foundation will provide sports kits, nutritional support and other academic support to the emerging players, who will be identified and trained by DTSRDF. DTSRDF will also organise different events and tournaments to develop the rural talents.
JSP President & Group Head (CSR) Prashant Hota coordinated the entire event. Under his supervision, JSP’s DGM (CSR) Virgil Lakra, DTSRDF’s Rakesh Mohanty and Raju Mohanty managed the program successfully.
Sundargarh MLA Subrat Tarai, SSDC Chairperson Binay Toppo, former Minister Mangala Kisan, Olympians Ashok Kumar, Virendra Lakra, Ignesh Tirky, former Hockey Coach Ajay Bansal and former Captain of Women’s Hockey Subhadra Pradhan also attended the programme.
