Odisha Government will sponsor the Indian National Men and Women Hockey Teams (both Senior and Junior) for 10 more years from 2023 to 2033. The decision to extend the sponsorship agreement was approved in the State Cabinent Meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today.

Earlier, Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) had entered into an agreement with Hockey India, after due government approval, for sponsorship of the National hockey teams for period of five years from 2018 to 2023.

Based on a request from president of Hockey India, OMC had sought approval of the Cabinet for the extention of the sponsorship agreement. OMC will now sponsor the National teams till 31 January 2033 and will pay Hockey India a total amount of Rs 434.12 crores (excluding applicable taxes) during this period.

It may be noted that Chief Minister Patnaik had announced the extension of the sponsorship for 10 more years in a special function, held in Bhubaneswar on 17 August 2021, while felicitating players and support staff of both National men and women hockey teams for their historic performances at the Tokyo Olympics.

Odisha Government became the sponsors of the National hockey teams for the first time in 2018 with Chief Minister Patnaik announcing the five-year agreement on February 15 that year. But unlike this time, the sponsorship amount for the first five years was not disclosed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOTO: File photo of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik posing the Indian men and women hockey team captains Manpreet Singh and Rani Rampal while announcing the five-year sponsorship deal on 15 February 2018.