Inter-State U-17 Girls’ 5-a-side Hockey Tournament to start from 18th April in Jharsuguda
Jharsuguda, April 16: Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, has extended its support to the upcoming Inter-State Girls’ 5-a-side Hockey Tournament in the under-17 category, being held in collaboration with the Jharsuguda District Hockey Association. The event is set to take place from April 18 to 20 at the Hockey Stadium in H. Katapali, Jharsuguda.
The tournament will witness participation from nine teams representing Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. Each team will consist of eight players, a coach, and a team manager. Matches will follow a league format, with preliminary rounds scheduled for the morning of April 18 between 6:00 AM and 8:00 AM. The formal inauguration ceremony will be held the same day at 5:00 PM, while the closing ceremony is slated for 7:00 PM on April 20.
Players are set to arrive on April 17, with accommodation and meals arranged at the Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya near the stadium. The event is being coordinated under the leadership of Jharsuguda Collector and District Magistrate Mrs. Aboli Sunil Naravane, who also serves as the President of the District Hockey Association, and Mr. Braja Bandhu Bhoi, Additional District Collector and Secretary of the Association. Regular reviews are underway to ensure seamless organisation.
Ten officials deputed by the Odisha Hockey Association will supervise the tournament, with senior figures like Mr. Sanatan Sahu (Secretary), Mr. P. K. Mohanty (Treasurer), Mr. Kalu Charan Choudhury (OSD Sports), and Smt. Subhadra Pradhan (former India Women’s Hockey Captain and current Chief Selector) attending the event.
Organising Secretary Mr. Jeeban Mohanty announced that Padma Shri Dr. Dilip Kumar Tirkey, President of Hockey India, will serve as the Chief Advisor for the tournament.
The event not only highlights the growing focus on grassroots sports in the region but also showcases Vedanta Aluminium’s commitment to promoting youth and women’s sports development in Odisha.
