Hockey World Cup | Nursery of hockey for long, Panposh now dreams bigger

With two modern turfs and other facilities in the pipeline, the alma mater of several Odia hockey stars plans to groom sports leaders for the future

There are, technically, no holidays at the Panposh Sports Hostel. The serious training, broken by an occasional wiseass quip from someone and showcasing of special skills before returning to working out as a team, is the norm here, every day — even when it’s rest. And the kids at Panposh Sports Hostel wouldn’t have it any other way.

In November last year, 18 boys and girls each from here left Indian shores for the first time ever and came back with an experience no amount of backbreaking hostel training could have given. The group, representing Odisha in Under-17 boys and Under-14 girls at the 1st National Hockey Development Program international tournament in Malaysia, faced foreign club and school teams from countries like Malaysia and Japan.

It was in line with the way change has gradually come to the nursery of Odia hockey and the alma mater for almost everyone from the state, who has made an international mark — from Dilip Tirkey and Lazarus Barla to the Tirkey brothers, Ignace and Prabodh, to Amit Rohidas to Shilanand Lakra and Sudeep Chirmako.

While they did not return with a medal, the boys are more than satisfied. “First time tha, seekhne ko bahut mila doosra teams se, bahar jake adjust karna bhi,” explained Abhishek Kispotta, captain of that side. Not that the hall of fame the hostel — less than three kilometres from the swanky, all-new state-of-the-art Birsa Munda International Stadium — boasts is any less informative; but the experience opened the boys to a whole new world in hockey.

The sports hostel itself has changed over years since it first began to groom the unlimited hockey talent in its backyard. A decade ago, it had only one turf and basic accommodation and facilities, situated in what then was way out of Rourkela. Now it’s part of the city with 199 trainees — 51 girls — with two new turfs, comfortable lodging, trained coaches with former India coach B.J. Cariappa leading the charge and support staff including conditioning expert and trainer. He also has the likes of Barla and Praful Tirkey — brother to Prabodh and Ignace — assisting him.

“The plans are big. We are hoping to get a pool and a projector room for video trainings soon which will further help these kids along with non-hockey skills to make them more confident going ahead,” Cariappa said.

The player profile has also changed. While a majority still come from the adjoining Sundergarh district, there are also a few from elsewhere — Gajapati, Dhenkenal and Ganjam. And not everyone wants to be a defender. While Dilip and Rohidas are icons, Shilanand Lakra and Amandeep Lakra, part of the national team at senior and junior levels, are strikers and they are the latest role models.