Rajgir: On the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand—celebrated nationwide as National Sports Day—a special tribute was paid during the pre-match protocol of the opening game of the ongoing Hero Asia Cup Rajgir 2025 between Malaysia and Bangladesh. The ceremony saw participation from Fumio Ogura, President, Asian Hockey Federation; Raveendran Sankaran, IPS, DG-cum-CEO, BSSA; Jitendra Rana, IPS, Inspector General of Police, Patna Zone; Dilip Kumar Tirkey, President, Hockey India; Bhola Nath Singh, Vice President, Asian Hockey Federation & Secretary General, Hockey India; Sekar J Manoharan, Treasurer, Hockey India & President, Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu; and Commander R.K. Srivastava, Director General, Hockey India.
National Sports Day was celebrated across approximately 500 districts in India, featuring various hockey activities and grassroots initiatives to honour Major Dhyan Chand’s legacy, according to Hockey India.
On this historic occasion, Hockey India reaffirmed its commitment to good governance and the growth of Indian hockey by highlighting futuristic, athlete-centric e-reforms aimed at enhancing transparency, accessibility, and professionalism in the sport.
Key initiatives include:
- Digital ID cards for players: Simplifying registration and verification, ensuring transparency and traceability, and directly downloadable from the Hockey India Member Units Portal—modeled on Aadhaar-style streamlined identification.
- DigiLocker integration: Athletes can now access certificates from the Hockey India National Championships dating back five years, aiding in college admissions, job applications, and other verification needs.
- Athlete Management System (AMS): A digital platform to track player performance, manage tournament data, and monitor athlete development. AMS integrates wearable technology for performance tracking, injury and wellness monitoring, training schedules, and secure cloud storage. Features include training load measurement, customised workout planning, injury tracking, coaching schedules, alerts, video/media storage, and advanced security protocols.
- Wearable wristbands for senior players: Track sleep, stress levels, and recovery to prevent overtraining.
“There were setbacks in monitoring player movements across states and academies during the National Championships,” said Dilip Tirkey. “Digital ID cards and full registration through the Player Portal address these issues. DigiLocker integration adds further convenience while securing records. These initiatives reflect our commitment to transparency, efficiency, and an athlete-first approach.”
Hockey India has also expanded the Member Units Portal to enforce district-level compliance, ensuring all state units adhere to governance and registration protocols, promoting standardisation and accountability at the grassroots.
Additionally, a grant of ₹2 lakhs has been announced for unemployed national team players. “This initiative supports athletes financially and demonstrates the federation’s commitment to their dreams,” said Bhola Nath Singh. “Our long-term goal is a player-driven ecosystem.”
Hockey India welcomed the passage of the National Sports Governance Act 2025, calling it a landmark for Indian sport. The federation supports its focus on transparency, fair elections, athlete representation, gender equality, safe sport practices, and anti-doping measures—principles already embedded in Hockey India’s operations.
