Coal India, the title sponsor of Hockey India league 2016, the fourth edition of the premier hockey tournament in the world signed a multi-crore deal with the Hockey league for the title sponsorship. The Championship that kick-started on January 18 in Bhubaneshwar under the floodlit Kalinga Stadium, received an overwhelming response from the hockey lovers at the four venues out of the six chosen venues such as Bhubaneswar, lucknow, Chandigarh and Ranchi, going by the spectator turnout numbers.

The State sector coal mining giant has plans to start new academies in the country to coach for several sports such as Hockey, Football, Badminton and more, soon.

“We are already in talks to open new academies for sports coaching and also planning to launch our very own hockey team on the national-level, very soon. Each subsidiary will be given responsibility to take up a particular sport and work on promoting it. This is an initiative being taken forward in an order to boost the sports culture in not only Jharkhand but the whole of eastern region,” said Adil Hussain, Sports Officer, Central Coal limited.

Coal India's initiative in promoting Indian hockey assumes special credence especially the current year being an Olympics year. “With the Olympics looming close it will be a reality check that provides an outlet for the young talent to exhibit their flair,” said Deepak Kumar, Senior Public Relations Officer, CIl.

A total of thirty-four matches are scheduled in the HIl tournament involving six teams playing across six cities of the country. Extending over a month the hockey league would culminate in a finale on February 21, 2016 in Ranchi.