Kalinga Lancers to elevate Odisha’s hockey culture via HIL: Sunil Gupta

Very few Indian states bear a visible association with a sport that is as ubiquitous as Odisha’s allegiance towards hockey.

Introduced late in the 19th century by the British army and Christian missionaries, the state boasts of a love-affair with the sport that runs deep in the heartlands of Sundargarh.

Therefore, when the opportunity presented itself for a corporation with roots in Odisha to be associated with the Hockey India League (HIL), Kalinga Lancers was Vedanta Aluminum's obvious choice.

“We thought that this was the right time for Vedanta to get associated with hockey,” says Sunil Gupta, COO - Vedanta Aluminum and Director- Kalinga Lancers, in an interview with The Bridge.

Geographical affinity

As India’s largest aluminum producer, the company’s plants are located in Jharsuguda, barely 50-kilometers away from Sundargarh, a district which is seen as the bedrock of hockey-talent in the state.

An astute observer of the sporting ecosystem in the country, Gupta recognizes the impact that a professional league can have on a given sport.

“Hockey is becoming popular and it becomes our moral responsibility as a corporate to promote it,” he says.

But this isn’t the first time that the organisation has become involved with the sport. According to Gupta, Vedanta was previously involved in promoting the district-level hockey in Jharsuguda, Lanjigarh and parts of western Odisha.

And now, the aspiration is to go national while partnering with Hockey India.

“Earlier it was localized, now it (intent to support) has gone up to the nation and international level,” he says.

Player promotion key

With the popularity of hockey witnessing an upward trajectory, thanks to successes in the Olympic games and across the Asian continent, Gupta sees the phase as the right time to infuse further impetus.

“I think the time has come that we should support hockey and we should talk about how hockey can really become big at the nation and international level.”

For him, promoting players is critical to ensure that the ‘levels of hockey’ are further elevated.

“Motivating players and bringing out the talent of Indian hockey is critical,” he says.

And this is the precise philosophy that he has adopted when assembling the Kalinga Lancers outfit.

“It should be a mix of energy comprising of international and the domestic players,” he says, recalling his instructions to the franchise staff when securing the services of players.

As for the HIL itself, given its emergence after a seven-year hiatus, Gupta believes that visibility by means of broadcasting will be essential.

“In two to three years, the HIL can be a very prominent league in India like the IPL and I see a great opportunity.”

But for now, his focus is singular, player promotion and ensuring that the Kalinga Lancers display a brand of stickwork that takes Odisha’s rich heritage and hockey culture to the next level.

Note:

- The Men’s matches of the HIL will take place between the 28th of December 2024 and the 1st of February 2025 at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, Rourkela.

- The Women’s matches of the HIL will be played between the 12th of January and the 26th of January 2025 at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium, Ranchi

- Hockey India League 2024-25: Full schedule, fixtures, venues

- Free passes may be booked on https://ticketgenie.in/