Indian hockey is reaping the benefits of the support that the Odisha government has provided after both the men’s and women’s national teams entered the semi-finals of the Tokyo Olympics.
The Odisha government is the official sponsor of both the men’s and women’s hockey teams since 2018 and is contracted to sponsor it till 2023. The government is committed to spend Rs 100 crore for sponsoring Indian hockey, sources said. Considered to be one of the cradles of hockey in India, Odisha has been putting in all efforts to ensure that the country regains its rightful position in the game in the world, they said.
The state had shot into international focus when it successfully organised the Men’s Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar in 2018 and is going to host the event again in 2023.
Two players from Odisha — Birendra Lakra and Amit Rohidas — are part of the men’s hockey team in Tokyo.
Amit’s mother Golapi Rohidas told The Telegraph: “My husband passed away last year due to kidney failure. He had a dream that our son should play in the Olympics and win a medal. I hope Amit fulfils his dream. I watched the match along with my elder son Niranjan.”
Residents of Amit’s village Saunamara in Sundargarh district were also elated. “The transformer supplying power to our village got burnt. With the help of a battery, we watched the game on TV. With only four minutes left, the battery conked out but we managed to watch the rest of the game on our mobile phones. It’s a great moment for our village as our boy is a part of the Indian hockey team,” said former sarpanch Chulu Barla.
Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik watched the match on Sunday as the Indian men’s team beat Great Britain 3-1 to enter the semi-finals. On Monday, the women’s team beat much-fancied Australia 1-0 to reach the semi-finals.
Congratulating the men’s team, Naveen said: “The national team has come out with flying colours in the quarter-final.”
He expressed hope that the team will keep up the momentum to win the semi-final and the Olympic final.
Congratulating the women’s hockey team, Naveen said: “What a terrific game our women’s hockey team played against Australia. Keep it up.”
Odisha finance secretary Vishal Kumar Dev, who was earlier the sports secretary, told this newspaper: “On the direction of the chief minister, we have been focusing on promoting hockey in our state as well as in the country. Odisha was successful in organising the Men’s Hockey World Cup in 2018. The next Men’s Hockey World Cup will be held in Odisha in 2023. We are putting all our efforts to ensure its success as well. We have got recognition from the FIH (International Hockey Federation) for our efforts to popularise the game and supporting the cause of Indian hockey.”
The world cup will be held in two places — Bhubaneswar and Rourkela.
Former Indian men’s hockey captain Dilip Tirkey told this newspaper: “With the Odisha government sponsoring hockey for the last three years, the fruits are now visible. We have built a world-class hockey facility at Kalinga Stadium and another stadium is coming up in Rourkela. Without official patronage, hockey could not have reached this stage.”
The hockey stadium in Rourkela is being built with an investment of Rs 100 crore.
Indian Olympic Association president N.D. Batra tweeted: “Hon’ble chief minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik Ji sending his congratulatory message by video to Team India men’s hockey team for winning the quarter-finals and entering into semi-finals after a gap of 41 years and chief minister also wished good luck to the men’s hockey team for semi-finals on 3rd August. Thank You chief minister Sir on behalf of Indian men’s hockey team in Tokyo.”
