Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, extended congratulations to nine Odisha players selected in the Indian National Junior Hockey Team for a tour to Belgium, calling their achievement the finest proof of his government's 'Padia to Podium' ('From the Ground to the Podium') initiative aimed at elevating grassroots sports talent to the world stage.

Context

The nine players named by CM Majhi are Anmol Ekka, Adrohit Ekka, Rohit Kulu, Mukesh Toppo, Vivek Lakra, Sanjit Tirkey, Prashant Barla, Rittik Lakra, and Aryan Xess. In his post, the Chief Minister described them as 'talented young sportspersons' and expressed heartfelt wishes for their success on the international stage. He wrote that their selection is 'a reflection of Odisha's rich hockey culture.'

The Indian National Junior Hockey Team, the under-21 squad governed by Hockey India, undertakes regular international exposure tours to countries with established hockey infrastructure. Belgium is among the European nations that regularly host such tours, providing competitive match experience for emerging players.

Policy Backdrop

The 'Padia to Podium' programme is the Odisha government's framework to identify talent at the district and village level and provide structured pathways to national and international competition. CM Majhi, who assumed office in June 2024, has publicly positioned the scheme as a cornerstone of the state's sports policy.

Odisha's investment in hockey has deep institutional roots. The state hosted the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup in 2018, a milestone that triggered sustained spending on hockey academies and infrastructure. The central government's Khelo India programme, launched in 2017, has also provided funding and competition pathways that states including Odisha have used for junior talent identification. Successive state administrations have combined infrastructure development with targeted support for players from tribal and rural communities, a pattern visible in the surnames of several players in the current squad.

Stakeholders and Impact

The selection of nine players from a single state in a national junior squad is a significant indicator of Odisha's pipeline strength in hockey. Many of the named players carry surnames associated with tribal communities in the state, underscoring the reach of grassroots programmes into rural and indigenous populations.

For junior players, international exposure tours such as the Belgium visit are critical stepping stones. Competitive matches abroad sharpen tactical awareness and physical conditioning in ways that domestic tournaments alone cannot replicate, often serving as a precursor to senior national team consideration.

What's Next

The outcomes of the Belgium tour — including match results and individual performances — will be closely watched by selectors and state sports officials alike. Any subsequent call-ups to the senior national squad from this group would validate the 'Padia to Podium' model at its highest level. State budget announcements on further expansion of hockey academies under the framework are also anticipated in the coming months, as Odisha seeks to sustain and deepen its position as India's foremost hockey nursery.