A moment of immense pride for the Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre (ONTHHPC) as nine of our talented cadets, along with key members of the coaching and support staff, played a significant role in Odisha’s title-winning campaign at the 16th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2026 in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

Odisha were crowned champions after defeating Madhya Pradesh 2–1 in a thrilling Grand Finale, securing the national title in impressive fashion.

Adding another special moment to the triumph, Odisha captain and ONTHHPC cadet Deepak Pradhan was named the Final’s Man of the Match, capping off a memorable championship campaign for both the player and the Centre.

The nine ONTHHPC cadets who represented Odisha in the championship-winning team were:

• Abhimanyu Gouda — Goalkeeper
• Bilkan Oram — Defender
• Ajay Xalxo — Defender
• Samir Barwa — Midfielder
• Bishal Kaitha — Midfielder
• Bishal Barla — Midfielder
• Alok Kujur — Striker
• Deepak Pradhan — Striker & Captain
• Deonath Nanwar — Striker

The Odisha team was also supported by members of the ONTHHPC coaching and performance team, including Men’s Head Coach P. Lakshminarayana, Physio Anoop Dev Narayana, and Strength & Conditioning Coach Sudip Paul.

Commenting on the achievement, Captain Amitabh, CEO, Hockey Ace Foundation, said:

“This is a tremendously proud moment for the entire ONTHHPC family. Seeing nine of our cadets represent Odisha and contribute to winning the 16th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship is a reflection of the hard work, discipline and commitment they have shown throughout their development. I would also like to congratulate Captain Deepak Pradhan on being named the Final’s Man of the Match, as well as Head Coach P. Lakshminarayana, Physio Anoop Dev Narayana and Strength & Conditioning Coach Sudip Paul for their valuable contribution. This victory reinforces our belief in building a strong high-performance pathway for young hockey players and preparing them to perform at the highest level.”

Their presence throughout the championship reflects the Centre’s commitment to developing young players through a comprehensive high-performance system that combines technical development, tactical preparation, physical conditioning and athlete support.

The success of the nine ONTHHPC cadets on the national stage is a testament to their hard work, discipline and determination, while also highlighting the growing contribution of the Centre towards Odisha’s hockey ecosystem.

The 16th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship title marks another significant achievement for Odisha hockey and a proud milestone for the ONTHHPC family.

The Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre congratulates the nine champion cadets, Captain and Final Man of the Match Deepak Pradhan, Coach P. Lakshminarayana, Physio Anoop Dev Narayana and Strength & Conditioning Coach Sudip Paul on this remarkable national triumph.

Hockey Ace Foundation- a joint initiative of Tata Steel and Tata Trust, incorporating the Naval Tata Hockey Academy (Jamshedpur) and Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High-Performance Centre (Bhubaneswar) partnered with the Govt of Odisha- 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.