PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Aug 29: India’s National Sports Day, observed annually on August 29, holds a special significance as it commemorates the birth anniversary of the legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand.
A true icon, Dhyan Chand’s remarkable accomplishments include clinching three consecutive gold medals for India at the Olympics in 1928, 1932 and 1936.
His autobiography, ‘Goal’, chronicles an awe-inspiring career with a staggering 570 goals scored between 1926 and 1949.
Notably, his legacy extends to the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, the country’s highest sporting honour.
Tata Steel has been an instrumental force in nurturing sports and athlete development for nearly a century.
This commitment finds its roots in the passion of the visionary founder, Jamsetji Tata, who recognised sports as a powerful instrument for positive change.
This belief led to a culture of unwavering support for various sports and the exceptional athletes who excel in them.
The legacy continued through his son, Sir Dorabji Tata, who financed the Indian contingent at the 1920 Olympics in Belgium, demonstrating Tata’s early association with competitive sports.
Fast-forward to the present day, Tata Steel’s dedication to sports has become deeply ingrained in its corporate identity. Sports serve as a way of life, embodying the Company’s vision to engage employees, families and communities in active, healthy lifestyles while enhancing the brand’s image through excellence.
This vision is realised through targeted initiatives aimed at both employees and the community, fostering talent at the highest echelons of sports.
The company invests in state-of-the-art training facilities, organises corporate runs, fun games and outdoor activities to promote fitness and well-being.
Tata Steel’s commitment to athlete development is underscored by the creation of premier academies that nurture talent at the highest levels.
From the Tata Football Academy and Tata Steel Adventure Foundation to the Tata Archery Academy and Tata Athletics Academy, the Company’s dedication shines through.
These academies, alongside High-Performance Centres, training and feeder centres, and grassroots programmes, form a comprehensive ecosystem that identifies, trains and supports promising athletes.
Testament to the company’s efforts in adding value to the overall sports ecosystem of the country is that Tata Steel has produced 1 Padma Bhushan, 11 Padma Shri, 1 Khel Ratna, 6 Dronacharya, 42 Arjuna Awardees and 1 Dhyanchand Lifetime Achievement Award in the field of sports. Jamshedpur is also home to Jamshedpur FC, the professional football club based in Jamshedpur. The club competes in the Indian Super League (ISL), which is the top tier of professional football in India.
Notably, the Naval Tata Hockey Academy (NTHA) has been a game-changer in Jharkhand and Odisha.
Established in 2017 and 2019 respectively, these academies have partnered with the Bovelander Hockey Academy (BHA) from the Netherlands to impart technical expertise. Tata Steel’s High-Performance Centres (HPCs) further enhance the training regimen by providing athletes with world-class sports science support, cutting-edge infrastructure and exposure to technology.
These efforts have significantly contributed to Odisha producing over 5,000 national-level hockey players and over 70 international players.
To commemorate the day Tata Steel’s subsidiary Tata Steel UISL (formerly JUSCO) today gifted the city with a fitness centre.
The Bistupur Fitness Square at G Town Ground in Bistupur was inaugurated today. It has facilities of an open gym besides walking tracks.
