100 Years of Indian Hockey: Hockey India Announces Enhanced Grants and Nationwide Festival.
Sports
To commemorate the centenary of Indian hockey, Hockey India unveiled a historic package of enhanced financial grants for national and grassroots tournaments, and announced a grand nationwide hockey festival scheduled on November 7, 2025, during its 15th National Congress held at Mahabalipuram on July 27, 2025
- Hockey India has significantly increased its funding allocations: ₹70 lakh each will now be granted to host both the Senior Men’s and Senior Women’s National Championships, and ₹30 lakh each for the Junior Men, Junior Women, Sub-Junior Men, and Sub-Junior Women National Championships. These enhanced grants aim to reinforce competition quality and bolster national-level infrastructure.
- To strengthen talent development at the grassroots, every State Association will receive ₹25 lakh annually, earmarked for district and state-level competitions. This steady funding is intended to ease organizational costs, promote wider participation, and cultivate diverse hockey talent across India.
Main Point :- (i) As part of the centenary celebration, Hockey India will host a nationwide festival on November 7, 2025, featuring 1,000 simultaneous matches—one men’s and one women’s match in every district. The event is expected to engage over 36,000 players (18,000 men and 18,000 women), reflecting both gender balance and nationwide inclusivity.
(ii) Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey emphasized that this initiative honors India’s storied hockey legacy while strategically investing in its future: “These grants are a direct investment in the next generation’s dreams,” he said, highlighting the dual goal of celebration and development to ensure “no talent is left behind due to lack of resources.”
(iii) This landmark move blends heritage with foresight—creating a mosaic of national unity and sporting ambition. The funding boost, combined with the massive November festival, is expected to energize local associations, motivate emerging players, and reinforce hockey’s role as a symbol of India’s sporting pride.
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