Indian National Hockey Team secures sponsorship extension from Odisha

The Indian National Hockey Team has secured an extension of its support from the Odisha State Government for the next ten years which will see the partnership run until the end of January 2033. The state government approved an extension of the sponsorship agreement for both the men’s and women’s Indian National Hockey Teams.

The Odisha government has been the official sponsor of both the men’s and women’s national hockey teams since 2018. The collaboration is often viewed as a huge step forward in the resurgence of hockey in India.

Previously, after receiving government approval, Odisha Mining Corporation Limited (OMC) agreed to sponsor all Indian national Hockey Teams for a five-year period from 2018 to 2023. 

Based on a request from President of Hockey India for an extension of the agreement, OMC Ltd sought approval of the Cabinet and after a cabinet meeting, the Chief Secretary of the Odisha Government, P.K. Jena, confirmed the deal’s renewal request which sees OMC continue to partner with the Indian national hockey teams until 2033, and with US$52.5million to be released by OMC to the sport’s governing authority during this period.  

Over the past couple of years, both the men’s and women’s national teams have had impressive performances globally with the men’s team having claimed a bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics and women’s team having qualified for the semi-final stage of Olympics for the first time.

Through the partnership, the Odisha government aims to push the youth in the state to take up hockey and also develop brand visibility of the state as a global hub of hockey.

Image. Credit Hockey India