HI inducts Hockey Village India

Hockey India (HI) Friday inducted Hockey Village India (HVI) as an Academy Member to reach out to underprivileged children who are keen to make a career in the sport.

HVI works towards the better future of underprivileged children in rural India in terms of sports and education. Former German international Andrea Thumshirn started the academy in Garh Himmat Singh, District Dausa in Rajasthan, in 2010 with the support of her German hockey friends and local ruling families.

Thereafter, she managed to spread awareness of hockey in the surrounding areas and started training 50 boys and girls who later participated in various Under-14 and U-16 tournaments.

HVI opened their own school in 2013 to provide proper education and sporting facilities to budding players. Some German hockey players are now also volunteering to train young kids.

Spreading itself, HVI adopted Bhusawal Railway Boys (Maharashtra) and two more schools in South Goa in January this year and also plans to open a wing in Rohtak.

"HI has always strived to reach out to those who in spite of having the talent cannot reach the big platform. HI has always worked towards reaching out and identifying this talent. With HVI coming on board, our endeavour towards this initiative will strengthen and we are delighted to have them as an Academy Member," HI secretary general Narinder Batra said.

Andrea is the founding director of HVI.

HI now has 26 Permanent Members, 23 Associate Members, one Member through State Olympic Associations, eight Academy Members and one Hoc-Key Member.