THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
JANUARY 20, 2026
When the Hero Men’s Hockey India
League made its debut in 2013, Odisha’s footprint in the tournament was small
yet symbolic. Six players from the state took the field in that inaugural
season, carrying with them a rich but largely unstructured hockey legacy shaped
in tribal belts, dusty grounds and local tournaments. They were torchbearers of
tradition, not yet products of a system.
Thirteen years later, as the Men’s
Hero HIL 2025–26 season unfolds, that quiet presence has transformed into a
powerful statement. Odisha now has 16 players competing in the league, marking
a remarkable 166.7 per cent rise from the league’s first edition. The numbers
tell a story of growth, but the deeper narrative lies in what they represent —
a state that has steadily evolved into one of Indian hockey’s most dependable
talent hubs.
In 2013, Odisha’s representatives were
exceptions in a league still finding its identity. For many of them, simply
sharing the pitch with global stars was an achievement in itself. Structured
pathways were limited, and recognition often depended on standout performances
at national championships. The league, like the players, was still learning to
walk.
Today, the landscape is vastly
different. Odisha’s hockey players are no longer fringe participants. They are
spread across franchises, trusted in starting line-ups and deployed in decisive
roles across defence, midfield and attack. Their presence is no longer about
opportunity alone, but about reliability and impact.
Standing at the centre of this journey
is Amit Rohidas, the only Odia player to feature in both the inaugural season
and the current edition. From a young defender in 2013 to a seasoned
international stalwart in 2025–26, Rohidas embodies the arc of Odisha hockey
itself — patient, persistent and progressively stronger. His continued presence
bridges two eras, highlighting how individual growth has mirrored institutional
progress.
This surge from six to sixteen players
has not happened overnight or by chance. Over the past decade, Odisha has made
sustained investments in grassroots competitions, high-performance centres,
sports hostels and world-class infrastructure. International-standard venues in
Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, coupled with regular exposure through hosting World
Cups, Pro League matches and major tournaments, have reshaped the ecosystem.
For young players from Sundargarh,
border villages near Simdega and Odisha’s tribal heartland, hockey is no longer
just heritage. It is aspiration, profession and identity. Where the state once
produced individuals, it now produces systems.
As packed stands at the Kalinga Hockey
Stadium witness the final leg of the Men’s Hero HIL this season, Odisha’s
expanded representation offers a quieter yet compelling storyline running
alongside the goals and results. If the current trajectory continues, the leap
from six to sixteen may soon be remembered not as a peak, but as just another
milestone in Odisha’s growing hockey legacy.
