Naval Tata Hockey Academy (NTHA) Odisha, based out of Kalinga Hockey Complex, Kalinga stadium, Bhubaneswar.
The Academy, established by the Department of Sports & Youth Services, Govt. of Odisha, in partnership with HAF (Hockey Ace Foundation) and under the aegis of Tata Trusts and Tata Steel, was launched on August 13, 2019, by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Naveen Patnaik, along with T. V. Narendran, CEO & MD, Tata Steel, in presence of Shri Tusharkanti Behera, Minister of Sports & IT, Govt. Of Odisha, with a vision to groom the upcoming sporting talent in hockey and produce world-class sportspersons.
HISTORY
The Naval Tata Hockey Academy, established in 2017 as a cutting-edge institution to support aspiring field hockey players at the grassroots level in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, served as the starting point for this voyage. In the interiors of 3 districts of Jharkhand, there are currently over 65 grass-roots programme centres with over 3000 cadets under the management of Collectives for Integrated Livelihood Initiatives. In addition, 9 centres with more than 300 cadets are managed by the Tata Steel Foundation in the interior of various districts of the State.
These talented cadets from the grassroots centres are promoted to the Regional Development Centre, where they are given advanced training along with a better pitch and match exposure at state levels. After a certain age, these cadets have a chance to join the Naval Tata Hockey Academy- Jamshedpur and Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High-Performance Center, where they are also trained for the selection trials of reputed Hockey academies in India and Sports Authority of India Centres.
Furthermore, The Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High-Performance Centre (HPC), an initiative of the Sports Department, Government of Odisha, in partnership with Tata Steel & Tata Trusts was inaugurated in 2019. The HPC has grown in stature over the years and has its roots in 14 centres spread across 6 districts of the State. Around 2200 young trainees are groomed in these centres by 30 experienced coaches. The testimony to the efforts of the hockey HPC & its grassroot programmes in Odisha comes from the selection of 6 cadets in the Indian National Junior women camp in the last 12 months. Moreover, four girls have already made their international debut for the country in the junior women category.
“We are delighted to welcome Tata Steel into our family as an Official Partner for the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar – Rourkela. Tata Steel has made tremendous contribution in promoting Indian hockey, elevating the sport to new heights, and making this World Cup even greater. We look forward to a fruitful association.” said Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey on the collaboration
