Mega programme aims to nurture emerging hockey talent in Sundargarh district, Odisha.
NEW DELHI (India CSR): The esteemed Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched a comprehensive programme named ‘One Step Ahead‘ today. Aimed at promoting and developing grassroots hockey in the Sundargarh district, this initiative is coordinated in collaboration with a major sports research and development foundation. The programme’s goal is to nourish budding hockey talents within the district.
Chief Minister’s Endorsement and Community Participation
The Chief Minister, in a video message, expressed his admiration for the efforts of the collaborators and emphasized that this initiative would strengthen grassroots hockey further.
Program Launch and Stakeholders’ Commitment
Various prominent figures including Minister of Labour & Employee State Insurance Sarada Prasad Nayak, Minister of Skill Development & Technical Education Priti Ranajn Gharai, Minister of Sports & Youth Services Tushar Kanti Behera and the Chairman of the collaborating Foundation attended the programme.
They encouraged the players and reiterated their commitment to supporting grassroots hockey and transforming this initiative into a movement for the future of the sport. Over 5,000 young players from 215 villages participated in the launching event.
Emphasizing the Importance of Grassroots Talent Development
A distinguished sports personality, who is also the President of Hockey India, commented, “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.”
Provision of Resources and Infrastructure for Talent Nurturing
As part of the initiative, a sports kit has been provided to over 5,000 emerging talents across 10 revenue blocks of the district. The government of Odisha has set up Astroturf hockey fields in each revenue block of Sundargarh, further endorsing grassroots hockey.
Recognizing the Contributions and Looking Forward
Other attendees included well-known sports personalities and government officials, and the programme was conducted under the efficient supervision of a prominent group head. The organization responsible for this initiative is committed to providing sports kits, nutritional support, and other academic support to emerging players.
They also plan to organize different events and tournaments to further cultivate rural talent. This programme marks a significant step in identifying and nurturing potential hockey talent, thereby promoting and enhancing the future of hockey in India.
(India CSR)
