Odisha govt’s sponsorship for Hockey India extended till 2036: CM Mohan Majhi

Majhi said the decision to extend Odisha’s sponsorship of Indian hockey by another three years, was taken to mark and celebrate the State’s 100th year of its formation

Updated on: Jun 21, 2024, 16:46:52 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Mohan Majhi on Friday announced the extension of sponsorship of Indian hockey by three more years keeping in mind the goals of ‘Vision Odisha: 2036.

Odisha has been the official sponsor of both the men and women National Hockey Teams since 2018. (ANI file photo)

Majhi said the decision to extend Odisha’s sponsorship of Indian hockey by another three years, was taken to mark and celebrate the State’s 100th year of its formation and keeping in mind the possibility of Gujarat hosting the 2036 Olympics.

“In 2036, Odisha will complete 100 years of formation. The year will also see a probability of Gujarat hosting the Olympics. Odisha’s role in the rise of hockey has been instrumental and this extension of sponsorship could prove to be a game changer for the State in the sports domain,” he said.

The Hockey India team led by president Dilip Tirkey and secretary Bhola Nath Singh met CM Mohan Majhi.

Odisha has been the official sponsor of both the men and women national hockey teams since 2018.

In April last year, former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik-led state government had announced extension of sponsorship agreement of both men and women national teams (senior and junior), for ten more years from 2023 to 2033 for ₹434.12 crore.

Also Read:Watch: For Odisha hockey World Cup, 5-ton sand sculpture, ‘world’s biggest’ hockey stick

The Odisha government has been a key promoter of the sport and has organised several tournaments including two FIH Hockey Men’s World Cups.

The state government has also built the world’s largest hockey stadium at Rourkela with a seating capacity of 20,000.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More