Bhubaneswar: As India celebrated 100 years of Indian hockey on Friday, how could Odisha be far behind?
The state which is synonymous with Indian hockey and is the sponsor as well, celebrated the landmark occasion with multiple programmes across the state.
At the iconic Kalinga Stadium, the state’s female Olympians Deep Grace Ekka, Sunita Lakra and Lilima Minz were felicitated by Additional Secretary B K Swain felicitated and honoured for their remarkable contribution and immense pride they have brought to the nation in the course of their stellar careers.
Deep Grace expressed joy at Indian hockey’s centenary and recalled her long career. Now retired, she wished success to the new generation of players and thanked the Odisha government for its continued support.
ହକି ତାରକା ଦୀପ ଗ୍ରେସ ଏକ୍କା ଭାରତୀୟ ହକିର ୧୦୦ ବର୍ଷ ପୂର୍ତ୍ତି ଅବସରରେ ତାଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତିକ୍ରିୟା ରଖିଛନ୍ତି ଏବଂ ଗୌରବମୟ ଭାରତୀୟ ଇତିହାସର ପ୍ରଶଂସା ମଧ୍ଯ କରିଛନ୍ତି।#IndiaKaGame #100YearsOfIndianHockey #भारतीयहॉकीके100साल #OdishaForHockey pic.twitter.com/cuvyjo1gNw
— Odisha Sports (@sports_odisha) November 7, 2025
ଅଲମ୍ପିୟାନ ସୁନିତା ଲାକ୍ରା କଳିଙ୍ଗ ଷ୍ଟାଡିୟମରେ ହୋଇଥିବା ଭାରତୀୟ ହକିର ୧୦୦ ବର୍ଷ ପୂର୍ତ୍ତି ଉତ୍ସବରେ ଯୋଗ ଦେଇଥିଲେ ଏବଂ ଭାରତୀୟ ହକି ପ୍ରତି ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଅବଦାନ ଅତୁଳନୀୟ ବୋଲି କହିଥିଲେ।#IndiaKaGame #100YearsOfIndianHockey #भारतीयहॉकीके100साल #OdishaForHockey pic.twitter.com/R4G4tqcTJK
— Odisha Sports (@sports_odisha) November 7, 2025
ଭାରତୀୟ ହକିର ୧୦୦ ବର୍ଷ ପୂର୍ତ୍ତି ଉତ୍ସବରେ ସାମିଲ ହେବା ସହ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ହକି ପ୍ରତି ଥିବା ଅବଦାନ ବିଷୟରେ ମତ ରଖିଛନ୍ତି ଓଡ଼ିଆ ହକି ତାରକା ଲିଲିମା ମିଞ୍ଜ। #IndiaKaGame #100YearsOfIndianHockey #भारतीयहॉकीके100साल #OdishaForHockey pic.twitter.com/DApLcCk08W
— Odisha Sports (@sports_odisha) November 7, 2025
Exhibition matches were organised featuring the Odisha Naval Tata Hockey HPC boys’ and girls’ teams, against Bhubaneswar Athletics Association and Sports Hostel Rourkela, respectively, to mark the occasion. The Director Sports Yeddula Vijay was present at the boys’ match, and Commissioner-cum-Secretary, DSYS Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav, graced the girls’ game. They extended best wishes to the players.
Earlier in the day, Jadhav flagged off a celebratory rally which was followed by friendly matches that captured the spirit of the game and its glorious legacy.
