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Key Points

Hockey India celebrates 100 years with major financial boosts for national and grassroots events. A nationwide festival on November 7 will feature 1,000 matches across districts. Grants include ₹70 lakh each for senior nationals and ₹25 lakh per state for local competitions. The initiative aims to strengthen infrastructure and ensure equal opportunities for emerging talent.

Key Points: Hockey India Announces ₹70 Lakh Grants for National Championships

  • ₹70 lakh grants for Senior Men’s & Women’s Nationals
  • 1,000 matches planned across districts on Nov 7
  • ₹25 lakh per state for grassroots events
  • Gender parity with equal funding for men & women
3 min read

100 years of Indian Hockey: Major financial grants announced to host national, grassroots-level events

Hockey India marks 100 years with ₹70 lakh grants for nationals and 1,000 district matches on Nov 7 to boost grassroots development.

"This nationwide festival is our tribute to every player, coach, and fan who has carried Indian hockey forward. – Dilip Tirkey"

Mahabalipuram, July 27

Hockey India successfully conducted its 15th Hockey India Congress on Sunday in the historic town of Mahabalipuram. Marking a century of Indian hockey's glorious journey, the session witnessed a series of landmark announcements, including a Nationwide Festival of Hockey on November 7 and substantial financial support for state and national-level hockey development, according to a release from Hockey India.

Indian hockey's legacy began in 1925 with the formation of its first-ever national governing body. To commemorate this historic milestone, Hockey India will organise an unprecedented, nationwide celebration on November 7. The event will feature 1,000 simultaneous matches -- one men's and one women's match in every district of the country -- engaging over 36,000 players (18,000 men and 18,000 women).

This massive initiative will bring together players from every corner of the nation, reflecting not only the unity and diversity of India, but also the enduring passion that hockey continues to inspire, the release said.

In a visionary move to further empower the ecosystem of Indian hockey, Hockey India announced substantial increases in financial grants to support the organisation of national and grassroots-level events:

₹70 lakhs each for hosting the Senior Men's and Senior Women's National Championships₹30 lakhs each for Junior Men, Junior Women, Sub-Junior Men, and Sub-Junior Women National Championships₹25 lakhs per state to support the organisation of district and state-level competitions.

These enhanced grants aim to strengthen infrastructure, improve event quality, and ensure wider participation by reducing financial constraints at the local level. The support is expected to benefit thousands of emerging players, coaches, and grassroots officials who are the backbone of Indian hockey's future.

Dilip Tirkey, president, Hockey India, said, "As we celebrate 100 years of Indian hockey, we not only honour our golden legacy but also lay a strong foundation for the future. This nationwide festival is our tribute to every player, coach, and fan who has carried Indian hockey forward. The financial support we are announcing is a direct investment in the dreams of the next generation, ensuring that no talent is left behind due to lack of resources," as quoted from a release by Hockey India.

Bhola Nath Singh, secretary general, Hockey India, added, "This centenary celebration is not just symbolic -- it's action-oriented. The increased grants are a reflection of our belief that real growth happens at the grassroots, and that equal opportunity, gender parity, and quality infrastructure are essential pillars of hockey's resurgence. We thank all our state units and districts for their commitment, and we look forward to a grand, inclusive celebration on 7th November."

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
As someone from Odisha where hockey is like religion, this news makes me emotional. Our tribal players will finally get proper support. But government should monitor fund utilization - last time many academies didn't receive promised money.
R
Rohit P
Great initiative but why only ₹25 lakh per state? Maharashtra has 36 districts while Goa has just 2. Allocation should be need-based. Also hope they include school-level tournaments in this plan.
S
Sarah B
The gender parity in this announcement is commendable! Equal grants for men and women's tournaments shows real progress. As an expat coaching hockey in Punjab, I've seen how girls struggle for basic equipment - this will help.
K
Karthik V
Hockey India deserves praise for this centenary plan. But let's not forget we need better astroturfs in villages. Many players still practice on grass/mud. The real test will be infrastructure development.
M
Meera T
My grandfather played hockey for Railways in 1960s. He'll be so happy to see this news! Request HI to document oral histories of veteran players as part of centenary celebrations - their stories are national treasures.

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