Jamshedpur: 

The Naval Tata Hockey Academy (NTHA), a joint initiative of Tata Steel and Tata Trusts under the Hockey Ace Foundation (HAF), officially inaugurated its new Girls’ Wing today. The facility strengthens the developmental pathway for young female athletes, guiding them from grassroots participation to elite national and international competition.

The ceremony was graced by Chief Guest Ruchi Narendran and Guest of Honour, M. M. Somaya, Olympic Gold Medallist and former Captain of the Indian Men’s Hockey Team, along with D. B. Sundara Ramam, Vice President - Corporate Services, Tata Steel and Chairman, Hockey Ace Foundation (HAF). The event was also attended by other senior leaderships of Hockey Ace Foundation and other dignitaries from Tata Steel, coaches, and HAF International Players.

The new High-Performance infrastructure is designed to support 30 players in its initial year, expanding to 35 in Year 2. It integrates state-of-the-art infrastructure, including:

• High-Performance & Recovery: Gymnasium, physiotherapy room, massage and recovery suites, and a specialized central kitchen/canteen.

• Technical & Educational Support: Video analysis room, audio-visual classrooms, and dedicated technical team offices.

• Residential Infrastructure: Purpose-built accommodation for players, warden and coaching staff.

Speaking on the occasion, Ruchi Narendran, Chief Guest, said that Sports has always been an integral part of the Tata Steel legacy, and that commitment continues through institutions like the Naval Tata Hockey Academy. This initiative of the girls’ wing by Tata Steel and Tata Trusts becomes a safe and world-class home where young athletes can learn, train and dream bigger. Jharkhand has given Indian hockey some of its finest players, and it must be ensured that its daughters have every opportunity to take their talent to the highest level. She expressed hope that every young player here will embrace this opportunity with pride, and ambition.

Addressing the gathering, M. M. Somaya said that Hockey Ace Foundation has created is a strong three-tier structure from the grassroots to Regional Development Centres, and then to NTHA as a High-Performance Centre. The age of 10 to 11 years is crucial for identifying talent, and this model ensures that young players are nurtured progressively at every stage. The integration of sports science at NTHA is another significant strength in developing high-performance athletes. Most importantly, Hockey Ace Foundation (HAF) is focusing on the 360-degree development of the player, which makes this approach exceptional and truly unique.

D. B. Sundara Ramam, Chairman, Hockey Ace Foundation, said that the inauguration of the Girls’ Hostel is an important milestone in Company’s journey to create a stronger and more inclusive pathway for hockey. Hockey Ace Foundation believes that developing a player requires much more than access to a hockey field, it requires the right coaching, sports science, education, nutrition, recovery and a supportive environment. This facility will bring these elements together under one roof and will help young women athletes pursue their aspirations with greater confidence. The endeavour is to build not just better hockey players, but well-rounded individuals prepared for life beyond the sport.

Over the years, Hockey Ace Foundation’s programmes in Jamshedpur and Bhubaneshwar have contributed significantly to Indian hockey, with athletes progressing to national and international representation. The inauguration of the Girls’ Wing at Naval Tata Hockey Academy (NTHA), Jamshedpur, therefore marks more than the opening of a new residential facility. It represents the creation of a stronger pathway for young girls to pursue hockey with the educational support, infrastructure and ecosystem required to realise their potential.

About HAF-

Hockey Ace Foundation- a joint initiative of Tata Steel & Tata Trust, incorporating the Naval Tata Hockey Academy (Jamshedpur) and Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High-Performance Centre (Bhubaneswar), is dedicated to reviving and developing hockey from the grassroots to the elite level. Through world-class coaching, tactical video analysis, and holistic player development, the foundation continues to feed top-tier talent into India’s national teams.