The grassroots programme of the Odisha Naval Tata Hockey HPC was launched on 1st December 2019 as Odisha Tata Hockey Initiative in which eight grassroots centres were set up in Sundargarh and two in Sambalpur. On 22nd January 2021 two more grassroots centres were opened in Dhenkanal and Deogarh.

On the occasion, Hockey Ace Foundation Chairman and Tata Steel Vice President Chanakya Chaudhary, said, “We are proud to be part of this wonderful initiative to promote hockey in the rural areas of Odisha in collaboration with the Government of Odisha and Tata Trusts. I wish both the new centres the very best as they develop regional talent and help them reach their aspirations.”

Odisha Naval Tata Hockey HPC has trained 30 grassroot coaches and appointed them at 14 centers to run the programme. All the grassroot coaches are being facilitated to Hockey India Coaching Pathway program in order to attain coaching certifications from HI/FIH. So far, 2400 kids have registered under the grassroot programme and they have been receiving hockey training at different centers, the press release claimed.

Odisha Naval Tata Hockey HPC, established by DSYS in partnership with HAF (Hockey Ace Foundation) and under the aegis of Tata Trusts and Tata Steel, was launched on 13th August 2019 by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

This elite hockey academy has been opened in Bhubaneswar as part of the three-pronged Tata Odisha Hockey Programme, a joint initiative of Tata Steel, Tata Trusts and Government of Odisha to nurture sports talent in the State, which is already being hailed as a cradle for the sport.
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TOP: Dilip Tirkey and R Vineel Krishna virtually inaugurating the two new grassroots centres of Odisha Naval Tata Hockey HPC in Bhubaneswar on 7th January 2022.
RIGHT: Players, coaches, officials and guests watch the virtual inauguration of new grassroots centres of Odisha Naval Tata Hockey HPC in Ranpur on 7th January 2022.