Over 1500 teams to participate in rural hockey tourney in Odisha

Ayaskant Das Published On : Sep 20, 2016 at 10:45 PM

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Sep 20:

‘Biju Patnaik Rural Hockey Championship’ under the aegis of DilipTirkey Sports Research and Development Foundation was today launched in Odisha capital. The championship shall begin from November and continue till March next year.

2 youths dead in motorcycle-scooter collision on NH-20 in Odisha’s Keonjhar

Selectors likely to name squad for T20 World Cup this weekend

More than 1500 teams from rural areas in and around Odisha shall be participating in this event which should make it one of the biggest sports tournament in the entire world, the organizers expressed.

Sports and Youth Services Department Secretary Vishal Kumar Dev along with international sand artist Sudarsan Patnaik , India’s former hockey captain Padmashri DilipTirkey , Director Prelude Satyabrat Sanu Ratho , business leader Bramha Mishra and other dignitaries launched the logo of the championship at a press conference here in Kalinga Stadium.

Managing trustee of Sports Research and Development Foundation DilipTirkey stressed on the need to recognize talents who due to lack of proper training, finance and infrastructure don’t come to the foreground.

“Talents when given proper direction shall help strengthen our national team. Promoting it in the rural area will not only spread awareness but also help them move ahead in the field of hockey. Apart from identifying talents and training them, this movement shall help bring the previous glory that India had as a hockey champion in the minds of people. All we need is encouragement and I request media friends to support this initiative,” DilipTirkey said.

He further thanked Padmashri Sudarsan Patnaik and Padmashri IgnaceTirkey (former India hockey captain) for agreeing to be the brand ambassadors of the Championship.

Vishal Dev expressed his happiness that such mega events taken across rural areas will actually bind our youth and motivates them for sports and other positive youth activities.

Internationally acclaimed sand artist Padmashri Sudarsan Pattnaik who has designed the logo was extremely happy to be a part of this grand initiative.

“I shall be promoting this championship through all things artisticand hope to make this event popular across the globe. Our players are extremely talented. They just need the right push and promotion,” he said.