BHUBANESWAR 27-Aug-2013 209
Hockey India (HI) on today proposed Odisha to get involved in the Hockey India League (HIL) as a franchise for the year 2014 and 2015. A team of Hockey India officials, led by general secretary Narendra Batra, presented the proposal in a high-level meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra at the State Secretariat here.
The proposal highlighted the opportunities involved in the franchise and the potentiality of Odisha flourishing through hockey. Development Commissioner I Srinivas, Sports & Youth Affairs Secretary H K Tripathy, Infrastructure Development Corporation CMD Bishal Dev and Odisha Mining Corporation MD Saswat Mishra, State Sports Director D V Swami participated in discussion regarding acceptability of the proposal.
Emphasising the fact that Odisha has a rich history of hockey and the state has produced international starts such as Dillip Tirkey, Lazrus Barla, Ignace Tirkey and Prabodh Tirkey, Batra said franchise in the HIL will further promote the sport at grassroots level.
``It will increase community visibility and will also be helpful for propagation of various potentialities of Odisha both at national and international levels. The league will focus on talent scouting in hockey. The franchise will enhance city image on an international scale as many international sports events will be held here and State will be a part of the global league,`` he elaborated.
``The cost involvement in the franchise for 2014 and 2015 is estimated around Rs 6 crores, which will also generate assured revenue of more than Rs 3 crores,`` said the HI general secretary.
``Besides, the HIL will provide a broad platform for propagation of art, culture, industrial, tourism and other opportunities of the state at national and international levels,`` added Batra.
The proposal for possibility of holding the franchise through a SPV in partnership among IDCO, OMC and PSUs was discussed in the meeting. Chief Secretary Mohapatra advised the Development Commissioner to examine the proposal from the view point of brand building for Odisha and suggest definite proposal about its feasibility.
According to sources, Hockey India submitted the franchise proposal, reckoning the state-of the-are hockey stadium in Bhubaneswar as a potential venue for HIL. The astro-turf hockey stadium, which is a part of the multi-discipline Kalinga Stadium, was unveiled last month by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
