Tata Steel thrashes Vizag Steel 21-0 in Inter Steel Plants Hockey Championship opener in Jamshedpur

Rourkela Steel Plant defeat Bhilai Steel Plant 10-2

Jamshedpur, March 23: Tata Steel showed no mercy against RINL Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (Vizag Steel) as they cruised to a 21-0 victory in the opening match of the All India Inter-Steel Plants Hockey Championship 2022 played at Naval Tata Hockey Academy, ISWP Sports Complex, Jamshedpur.

Md. Danish scored four goals while Dipak Soren netted a hat-trick. Dilbar Barla, Sandeep Soren and Jaymasih Tuti scored two goals each for Tata Steel.

In the second match of the day Rourkela Steel Plant defeated Bhilai Steel Plant 10-2. Karan Lakra opened the scoring for Rourkela in the ninth minute and went on to score hat-trick. Nitesh netted two goals in the 16th and 22nd minute. Mukesh Tete, Anmol Ekka, Raj Minj, Amit Toppo and Kerobin Lakra were other scorers for team Rourkela Steel Plant.

For Bhilai Steel Plant Khogeshwar scored in the 44th minute of the match and Khushal netted one in the 49th minute.

Earlier, the three-day championship kicked off on March 23 and will conclude on March 25.

Neeraj Kant, Managing Director, Indian Steel and Wire Products Limited (a subsidiary of Tata Steel), graced the occasion as Chief Guest and Hari Shankar Singh, Treasurer and Accountant, Tata Workers’ Union, was the Guest of Honour.

Addressing the gathering, Neeraj Kant said: “Sports has always been an integral to Tata Steel’s philosophy of nation building. It has always promoted sports in all disciplines be it archery, football, tennis, basketball, boxing, and of course, hockey. It encourages its employees and community at large in making it a vital part of their lifestyle. Established in 2017, Naval Tata Hockey Academy aims to revive hockey in Jharkhand and the nearby tribal belt with world-class facilities and qualified coaches and trainers. I request all participants, officials, and members of the organising committee to not let their guard down and follow all COVID-19 protocols during the championship. Play safe and good luck.”

Hari Shankar Singh said, “This is my first visit to the academy and I feel delighted to be present here for this event. I want to congratulate Tata Trusts and Tata Steel for this wonderful initiative, which I am sure will further promote hockey in India by taking the sport to greater heights. I wish injury-free matches for the players. Wish you all the best for the championship.”

Other guests present for the occasion were the senior leadership of Tata Steel, officials of Tata Workers’ Union, members of the sports advisory committee, participants, coaches, and members of the Sports Division of Tata Steel and Naval Tata Hockey Academy.

The matches are being conducted by qualified referees from Hockey Jharkhand such as Manoj Pradhan, Nomita Xalxo, Dibya Dungdung and Naveen Minj. Gurmeet Singh Rao, Programme Director, Naval Tata Hockey Academy, has been nominated as the Observer by SPSB. All the matches will be played as per the rules and regulations of Hockey India. This is the second time that Tata Steel is hosting the championship, the first being in 2019.

It is worth mentioning that Tata Steel in association with Steel Plants Sports Board (SPSB) is hosting the Championship. Around 80 participants and officials from across the country will be participating in the championship from Rourkela Steel Plant, Bhilai Steel Plant, RINL Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and Tata Steel Limited.