Odisha's 'gift to the nation': The relentless quest to make Indian hockey great again

“Hockey in Odisha is more than a sport, it’s a way of life, especially in our tribal regions where children learn to walk with hockey sticks,” chief minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik said during an event in New Delhi where it was announced that the eastern state of India would sponsor the national men's and women's hockey teams for the next five years.

The BJD supremo felt this deal with Hockey India is the state's 'gift to the nation' keeping in mind how Odisha has been gloried by virtue of this game. However, the state might have already presented a bigger gift to the nation in the form of hockey wizards like Dilip Tirkey, Ignace Tirkey, Birendra Lakra, Lazarus Barla to name a few.

But what led to the commencement of this fruitful relationship between Odisha and Hockey India?

“Back in 2014, Odisha became the only state to own a team in Hockey India League (HIL) when Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) and Mahanadi Coalfield Limited combined to form Kalinga Lancers,” says Odisha’s sports and youth affairs secretary, Vishal Kumar Dev. “The idea back then was to give exposure to the best Indian and foreign talents.”

This step not only gave a platform to youngsters like Dipsan Tirkey, but also brought the crowd to the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. There was no looking back as Odisha successfully hosted 2014 Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy and 2017 Men’s Hockey World League Final.

Soon, the state was chosen as the hosts of 2018 Hockey Men’s World Cup, a tournament which will also be sponsored by the Odisha Government. “That’s when we decided to take the next step. As soon as Sahara’s contract with Hockey India was terminated, we stepped in. The only motive behind this move is to restore Indian hockey’s glory,” Dev reveals.

Indian hockey teams’ busy 2018 schedule means there is an immediate opportunity for the stick wizards to work towards achieving the goal, which has been envisioned by the Odisha government.

A cue for other states to toe Odisha's line?

A state sponsoring a national team is a first in India and it can surely be considered as a watershed moment in the country’s sporting history. Indian women’s captain Rani Rampal puts the importance of this deal in context.

“When one state comes forward and takes such an initiative, other state governments also start thinking about toeing the line,” she says.

“This is not just about hockey, other sports also need promotion and the way our Chief Minister has gone about the business and decided to sponsor the national teams, this will only inspire other states to come forward and think of helping different disciplines,” former Indian hockey captain and a legend from the state of Odisha, Dilip Tirkey underlines another vital aspect of this partnership between Hockey India and Odisha.

What adds solidity to Odisha's relationship with Hockey India

In the past, we have seen many promising deals getting terminated because of the lack of commitment and farsightedness, but Odisha’s love for hockey gives an added strength to this pact.

The tribal regions of the state literally live and breathe hockey. This is why Odisha has become a breeding ground for the stick wizards of the country.

“Every kid in the tribal districts of Odisha play hockey. We grew up loving this game and it gives me immense pride to even think about the fact that my state is sponsoring my country,” says 19-year-old Dipsan, who is the latest player from Odisha to make a successful transition from India’s junior to the senior team.

The next move

All said and done, when the country is busy applauding Odisha’s initiative, the government is already chalking out its next plan to help the country. “A national level hockey academy will be built in Bhubaneswar in collaboration with Hockey India and we will also try to get Sports Authority of India (SAI) on board,” Dev confirms.

There was a time when it was a formality for Indian men’s hockey team to win the gold medal at Olympics. Practically it’s not possible to attain that ‘unbeatable’ status overnight, but the Odisha government’s initiative has all the signs of bringing about a revolution. A much-needed change.