Hockey Odisha will be one of the eight states to introduce five-a-side state championships for men and women later this year. A meeting to identify and finalise venues, dates, teams and other technicalities took place at Barabati Stadium today.

Hockey India representatives Manoj Bhore and Ashfaque Allah Khan were present in the meeting along with office-bearers of Hockey Odisha. According to Hockey Odisha general secretary Pratap Satpathy, Hockey India has chosen Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab and Combined Universities as other seven affiliated units to stage the Hockey 5`s State Championships.

``The new tournament will be completed before January 15. Final decisions regarding dates and venues will be taken annual general congress of Hockey India, scheduled to be held on or before November 2,`` said Satpathy.