Bhubaneswar: The 73rd All India Police Hockey Championship – 2025, hosted by the Odisha Police under the aegis of the All-India Police Sports Control Board, was formally inaugurated on Monday at the 7th Battalion Ground in Bhubaneswar.
The opening ceremony was graced by Director General of Police (DGP) of Odisha Yogesh Bahadur Khurania as the Chief Guest. He received the ceremonial salute and addressed the gathering during the grand inaugural parade.
In his inaugural address, the DGP emphasised the importance of promoting sports within the police forces as a means of building fitness, discipline, and unity. He highlighted Odisha’s rising profile in national sports, particularly in water sports, shooting, and hockey, and acknowledged the efforts of Odisha Police in nurturing sporting talent.
Khurania also expressed great pride and honour in highlighting the remarkable legacy of Sundargarh district, often hailed as the cradle of Indian hockey. He stressed that this region has produced numerous legendary players, such as Dilip Tirkey, Lazarus Barla, Prabodh Tirkey, Birendra Lakra, and Lilima Minz, who have represented both Odisha and India at international levels, bringing immense glory to the nation. Recognising this unparalleled contribution, he lauded Sundargarh as a beacon of sporting excellence and a symbol of Odisha’s deep-rooted hockey culture. He also thanked the government of Odisha for sponsoring Indian Hockey for the next 10 years and for extending full support in organizing this championship. Special thanks were expressed to the Chief Minister of Odisha for approving all necessary arrangements and for kindly consenting to be the Chief Guest at the Closing Ceremony.
The event began with an introductory address by Anup Kumar Sahoo, IGP (Training) and Organising Secretary of the Championship. The welcome address was delivered by Dayal Gangwar, Additional DGP (Headquarters) and Vice President of the Organising Committee. The vote of thanks was offered by Rajesh Kumar, Additional DGP (SAP) and Vice President of the Committee.
The championship is scheduled from April 7 to 15, 2025, at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. Teams from various State Police and Central Armed Police Forces are participating in the tournament, which will be played in a league-cum-knockout format. The competition is being conducted with the full cooperation of the Sports & Youth Services Department, the Government of Odisha, and the Odisha Hockey Association.
To ensure smooth organisation, several committees—such as protocol, accommodation, transport, finance, publicity, security, and medical—have been formed under the supervision of senior police officers. The officially approved mascot for the event has also been launched.
The Closing Ceremony of the championship will be held on April 15 at Kalinga Stadium. The DGP has directed all organising members to ensure error-free arrangements related to hospitality, logistics, and match management and urged the Odisha Police to maintain high standards in representing the state’s pride.
