Bhubaneswar Hockey Club Trust (BHCT) is all set to organise the 2nd Michael Kindo Memorial All India Womens Hockey Tournament, in collaboration with Hockey Association of Odisha (HOA), at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar from 22 to 27 May 2026. This was announced by BHCT chairman Capt Ratikanta Nayak during a press conference in Bhubaneswar today.

The tournament is a tribute to hockey legend Michael Kindo, who was a member of the Indian mens hockey team that won the World Cup gold medal for the first and only time in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1975.

Kindo was also parts of the Indian team that bagged the bronze medal in 1972 Munich Olympic Games, silver in 1973 Amsterdam World Cup, bronze in 1971 Barcelona World Cup and silver in 1974 Tehran Asian Games.

The inaugural edition of the Michael Kindo Memorial Tournament was a youth (U-19) competition, which was won by Hockey Training Centre, Chhatrapur, defeating host BHCT 5-2 in the final last year.

A total of eight teams from different part of the country have confirmed to participate in the upcoming tournament, which would feature a total of 16 matches. Teams will play league matches in two groups and the top two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals.

The participating teams are: Sports Hostel Rourkela, South Eastern Railway, SAI Kolkata, Sports Hostel Sundargarh, Hockey Simdega, Odisha Police, CISF and host BHCT.

“We have doubled the prize money for the second edition. The champion and runners-up will be given Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000 respectively, besides the trophies. Teams finishing third and fourth will receive Rs 30,000 and Rs 15,000 respectively,’’ said Captain Nayak.

He expressed his gratitude to the Department of Sports & Youth Services, Government of Odisha for their continuous support for the staging of the tournament. Hockey Olympian Dilip Tirkey, who is the president of both Hockey India and HOA, wished the upcoming tournament all success. BHCT adviser Dr Sesha Kissan, president Capt Biswabijay Sahoo and secretary Ranjan Das were present on the occasion.
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PHOTO: Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey (Centre) and office-bearers of BHCT announce the details of the 2nd Michael Kindo Memorial All India Womens Hockey Tournament during a press conference in Bhubaneswar on 20 May 2026.