Naveen Inaugurates ‘One Step Ahead’ To Promote Grassroots Hockey In Sundargarh

Rourkela: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday launched “One Step Ahead” for development and promotion of grassroots hockey in Sundargarh district.

The Chief Minister, who inaugurated the programme at Biju Patnaik Hockey Stadium in Rourkela in virtual mode, appreciated the efforts of JSP Foundation and Dilip Tirkey Sports Research and Development Foundation (DTSRDF) for jointly organising it. The programme, which aims at nurturing budding hockey talents, will further strengthen the sports at grassroots level, he added.

In her message, chairperson of JSP Foundation Shallu Jindal said, “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. With the joint efforts of JSP Foundation and DTSRDF, we will transform the quality of grassroots level hockey in the state.”

“It’s not a program for me, it’s a movement, 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.

Chairman of Jindal Steel & Power Naveen Jindal assured that aligning with the efforts of Odisha government, JSP will extend all necessary support for promotion of hockey and development of more rural talents and build a sustainable 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, chairman of DTSRDF and president of Hockey India.

More than 5,000 players under the age of 15 years from 215 villages joined the launching programme.

Minister of Labour & Employee State Insurance Sarada Prasad Nayak, Minister of Skill Development & Technical Education Priti Ranajn Gharai and Minister of Sports & Youth Services Tushar Kanti Behera were present.

JSP Foundation felicitated Sundargarh SDC Chairperson Binay Toppo with Rs 25,000 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.

It may benoted that the state government has set up astroturf hockey field in each block of Sundargarh district for encouraging grassroot hockey. JSP Foundation has provided hockey kit, sticks, balls and jersey to 5,000 budding talents in 10 blocks. DTSRDF has mobilised and identified talents at the grassroots.