THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, AUGUST 8, 2026
The Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre
(ONTHHPC) has added another significant chapter to its growing legacy of
producing international hockey talent, with six of its cadets earning selection
to the Indian men’s junior team for the Men’s Junior Asia Cup 2026, to be held
in Moqi, China, from August 30 to September 13.
Leading the Indian contingent will be ONTHHPC’s Anmol Ekka,
who has been named captain for the continental championship. He will be joined
by fellow academy products Vivek Lakra, Rohit Kullu, Adrohit Ekka, Sanjit
Tirkey and Aryan Xess, underlining the depth of talent emerging from the
high-performance centre in Bhubaneswar.
The selection of six players from a single High Performance
Centre is a significant endorsement of the structured development programme at
ONTHHPC. The centre has focused on combining specialised coaching with
scientific training, performance analysis and holistic athlete development,
with the objective of preparing young players for the demands of international
hockey.
Speaking on the achievement, Gurmeet Singh Rao, Project
Director, Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre, said: "The
selection of six of our cadets to the Indian team for the Men's Junior Asia Cup
is a matter of immense pride for all of us. We congratulate each player on this
remarkable achievement, with special congratulations to Anmol Ekka on being
named captain. This accomplishment reflects the dedication of our athletes,
coaches, support staff, and everyone associated with the High Performance
Centre. We wish Team India every success in Moqi and are confident our boys
will make the nation proud."
The Men’s Junior Asia Cup remains one of the most important
competitions in the Asian junior hockey calendar, providing a platform for the
continent’s leading young players to test themselves at the international
level. For India, the tournament is also an important stepping stone in
strengthening its next generation of players and building a sustained pipeline
for senior international hockey.
For ONTHHPC, the presence of six cadets in the Indian squad,
with Anmol Ekka entrusted with the captaincy, represents a particularly
noteworthy achievement. It also highlights the growing contribution of Odisha’s
hockey development ecosystem to India’s national teams.
The Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre congratulated Anmol Ekka, Vivek Lakra, Rohit Kullu, Adrohit Ekka, Sanjit Tirkey and Aryan Xess on their selection and wished the Indian team success in its campaign in China.
Hockey Ace Foundation, a joint initiative of Tata Steel and Tata Trust that incorporates the Naval Tata Hockey Academy in Jamshedpur and the Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre in Bhubaneswar, in partnership with the Government of Odisha, has been working towards developing hockey from the grassroots to the elite level. Through world-class coaching, tactical video analysis and holistic player development, the foundation continues to contribute players to India’s national teams.
