Jharsuguda: The Jharsuguda District Hockey Association has begun offering morning and evening practice sessions for both boys and girls at its newly established turf field. Young athletes participating in the morning sessions receive coaching from experienced professionals. Notably, Subhadra Pradhan, a former captain of the Indian team and past chief selector for the women’s hockey team, conducts specialized training sessions on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings.
Students from schools in Belpahad, Laikera, Kirmira, and Brajrajnagar are consistently attending these training sessions. However, due to the limited space on the field, organizers have been forced to divide the sessions into compact shifts. On Saturday afternoons and during holidays, students practice in two groups, from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM and from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM. The morning sessions are similarly split, running from 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM and from 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM. Given the overcrowding and significant interest, local residents and students are advocating for the construction of a second turf field in the area.
Additionally, plans are being made to establish a dedicated sports hostel in Jharsuguda, as announced by the District Hockey Association. During the recent Annual General Meeting, Jharsuguda Collector and Association president Kunal Motiram Chavan emphasized that the state government is focusing on enhancing local turf fields to benefit both girls and boys.
