Bhubaneswar: Shri Sachin Ramachandra Jadhav, Secretary of the Department of Sports and Youth Services (DSYS), Government of Odisha, today felicitated star defender Amit Rohidas for his pivotal role in India’s triumphant campaign at the Men’s Hero Asia Cup Hockey 2025. India secured the Asia Cup title in a stellar performance, earning a direct spot in the 2026 Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup.
The felicitation served as a platform for a high-level interaction aimed at charting the course for hockey promotion across the state. Shri Jadhav met with prominent hockey Olympians and technical officials from Odisha, including Sunita Lakra, Lilima Minz, Stanli Victor Minz, and International Technical Official Nishan Jyoti Mohanty. Discussions centered on strategic initiatives to further strengthen and promote the sport at the grassroots level.
The presence of Lilima Minz and Stanli Victor Minz highlighted Odisha’s rich contribution to Indian hockey, particularly from the Sundargarh region. Lilima Minz, a celebrated midfielder, is an Olympian who was part of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team at the Rio 2016 Olympics. Her accolades include winning medals at the Junior World Cup and the Asian Games, underscoring the state’s potential to produce world-class female athletes. Stanli Victor Minz is also a former international player, adding to the wealth of experience present at the interaction.
Their participation signifies the state government’s effort to involve veteran players in developing the next generation of talent and leveraging their experience for policy-making.
Shri Sachin Ramachandra Jadhav, as the DSYS Secretary, is a key architect of the state’s holistic strategy to establish Odisha as a national sports hub. His vision extends far beyond a single sport, focusing on a sustainable, multi-sport ecosystem.
He is driving initiatives that ensure economic security for athletes. The state’s model includes providing education, lucrative cash prizes for performance, and securing government jobs under the sports quota for athletes emerging from state-run sports hostels.
The state has invested heavily in creating world-class infrastructure. This includes the ambitious plan to build one multi-sport stadium in every one of the state’s 314 blocks, democratizing access to modern facilities and creating talent scouting hubs across the entire state.
Beyond hockey, the state is vigorously promoting disciplines like athletics through the development of high-performance centres (HPCs) and by hosting major international events like the World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze, cementing its image as a destination for global sports.
The interaction with the hockey fraternity aligns with the government’s strategy of continuous engagement with top talent to garner insights and sustain Odisha’s position as the ‘Cradle of Hockey’ while also growing into a powerhouse for Indian sports overall.