Sports Minister inaugurates the 5th Edition of Odisha Naval Tata Hockey Grassroot League Championship

Bhubaneswar, July 8, 2025:. Shri Suryabanshi Suraj, Hon’ble Minister of Sports & Youth Services and Minister of Odia Language, Literature & Culture, Government of Odisha, inaugurated the 5th Edition of the Odisha Naval Tata Hockey Grassroot League Championship 2025 today at the iconic Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. Present on the ocassion were dignataries like Dipsan Tirkey ( former Junior International Vice captain of Indian Team), Shri Bijaya Kumar Swain, OAS (SAG) Additional Secretary, Department of Sports & Youth Services and Shri Rajiv Seth, Project Director, Odisha Naval Tata Hockey HPC. The event is being organized by the Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High-Performance Centre (ONTHHPC) in collaboration with the Department of Sports & Youth Services, Government of Odisha.

The much-anticipated final phase of this flagship grassroots hockey tournament will run from 8th to 12th July 2025, bringing together 16 top teams (8 boys’ and 8 girls’) from across Odisha. These teams have emerged victorious from the earlier qualifying rounds held in Chatrapur (Ganjam) and Bonai (Sundergarh), where a total of 64 teams (32 boys’ and 32 girls’) had participated making this one of the largest grassroots hockey tournaments in the country.

Speaking on the occasion, the Hon’ble minister Shri Suryabanshi Suraj said ‘This championship is a great opportunity, one that many others may not get. With support from your parents, teachers, Naval Tata Hockey HPC and the Government of Odisha, make the most of it. Stay disciplined, enjoy the game and if things don’t go your way this time, come back stronger next season.”

The final phase will follow a round-robin league format, followed by knock-out rounds, with the grand finals scheduled for 12th July 2025.

Now in its fifth edition, the Odisha Naval Tata Hockey Grassroot League Championship has grown into the largest grassroots hockey league in India. By offering a competitive platform at the grassroots level, the league continues to propel the state’s vision of becoming a global hub for hockey.