Tata Steel in association with Hockey Australia has launched a grassroot development programme 'Hooking2Hockey' at Gomardih in Sundargarh, the district known as the cradle of the stick sport in Odisha.
Series of workshops were conducted by a three member team led by Mr James Liggins, Participation Coordinator of Hockey Australia and two other members Tom Winter and Oran Aziz from July 5 to 8, in 10 schools of Kutra and Rajgangpur blocks, a company release said today.
The Australian trainers and participating students were felicitated at the concluding session yesterday.
The initiative, coordinated by Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS), Gomardih unit, is aimed to attract youngsters towards hockey and teach them basics of the game in a fun filled but professional atmosphere to help them grow up as good players.
300 students in the age group of 7-10 years - 15 boys and 15 girls from each of the 10 schools - participated in the workshops. All the children were given individual sports kit comprising hockey stick, ball, shin-guard, T-shirt and Gumshield. More workshops will be conducted in coming months in the area to cover approximately 200 more students. Tata Steel will nurture the future players from these youngsters by linking them to some leading training centres.
Besides, the team has also trained ten hockey coaches of these schools near Gomardih, where the steel major has its Dolomite Mine, it said.
D B Sundara Ramam, Executive-In-Charge, Ferro Alloys and Minerals Division, Tata Steel said this initiative will go a long way in encouraging hockey talent in the region.
Speaking about the partnership with Hockey Australia, Biren Bhuta, Chief, CSR, Tata Steel said the partnership is going to create a meaningful impact at the grass root level - both in the field of hockey as well as the lives of the youngsters who are interested in this game.
