Odishatv Bureau

Bhubaneswar: Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) on Thursday joined in as co-sponsor of the Kalinga Lancers team of Hockey India League (HIL) for the 2016 season.

On behalf of IOCL, Ramjee Ram, Executive Director (In-Charge) of Paradip Refinery project handed over the Rs 1 crore co-sponsorship cheque to Sanjeev Chopra, CMD, IDCO and chairman, Odisha Sports Development Promotion Company, which manages the Kalinga Lancers team, at IDCO office here.

WR Borbora, General Manager (HR) of Paradip Refinery project, was present on the occasion.

It may be noted that IOCL has been a co-sponsor of Kalinga Lancers team in the two previous seasons of Hockey India League in 2014 and 2015.

The company has the proud distinction of having 13 Arjuna awardees among its glittering squad of sports stars like P Gopichand, who won the Arjuna Award in 1999, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2001, Padma Shri in 2005, Dronacharya Award in 2009 and Padma Bhushan in 2014.

IOCL has been championing the cause of sports development for over three decades now. In line with the sports policy it adopted in 1985, it has over the years recruited many promising sportspersons, who have gone on to reach their peak in their chosen disciplines.

Since 2006, the company has also been conferring sports scholarships to promising young sports persons representing the State in indoor and outdoor games.

The scheme, which started in 2006 with 55 scholarships in seven games and sports, has now been increased to 150 scholarships in 19 games and sports to upcoming junior players between 14 -19 years of age.

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