NOAMUNDI (Jharkhand): In a move towards promoting sports in its areas of operation, Ore Mines & Quarries (OMQ) Division of Tata Steel in association with Hockey Australia – the governing body of hockey in Australia – on November 7, 2017 began formal hockey training for girls of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidayalaya (KGBV) at Noamundi., Jharkhand.
The collaboration of Tata Steel with Hockey Australia is to promote and popularise the game of hockey in India.
The initiative coordinated by Tata Steel Rural Development Society at Noamundi is aimed at attracting youngsters towards hockey.
The idea is to teach them basics of the game in a fun-filled yet professional ambiance. Under the Hook in 2 Hockey programme, 30 selected girls of KGBV at Noamundi will now be trained in hockey.
Hockey kits provided by Hockey Australia were distributed to the selected girls of KGBV by Pankaj Satija, General Manager (OMQ) Division, Tata Steel. The kit comprised of hockey stick, ball, shin-guard, T-shirt, Gumshield, etc.
Talking about the initiative, Satija said, “Sports is a way of life at Tata Steel. The partnership with Hockey Australia is going to shape up the lives of the young hockey players in rural areas.”
On a similar note, Captain Amitabh, Head, Skill Development, Tata Steel said, “This is fantastic platform for the young girls of the school to learn and develop this sport. It is one of its kind initiative in Jharkhand.”
Jharkhand over the years has given some of the finest international hockey players to the Indian Hockey team. Owing to its popularity in the tribal regions of West Singbhum, Noamundi has been selected by Tata Steel as the breeding ground for girl’s hockey to encourage talent in rural areas.
