Coca-Cola India Foundation Partners With Hockey India To Uplift Women's Hockey

Anandana, the Coca-Cola India Foundation partners with Hockey India for the 2024 National Women's Hockey League. The tournament's Phase 1 started on April 30 and ends on May 9, 2024, in Ranchi, Jharkhand, showcasing domestic talent.

Commenting on the partnership, Hockey India President Dr Dilip Tirkey said, "We are thrilled to have Anandana, the Coca-Cola India Foundation onboard for the inaugural edition of the tournament. I believe this association will not only elevate the stature of hockey as a sport but also of women hockey players, nationally and internationally. This collaboration will be a milestone in raising the bar of sports training and enhancing sports capabilities in India”.

The National Women's Hockey League features teams that secured top-eight positions in Pune's recently concluded 14thHockey India Senior Women National Championship 2024. The participating athletes represent various states including Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Bengal, Mizoram, Manipur, and Odisha.

Hockey India Secretary General Shri Bhola Nath Singh welcomed the partnership with Anandana, the Coca-Cola India Foundation. "Our goals are perfectly aligned," he said. "Both Hockey India and Coca-Cola are committed to promoting and developing sports at the grassroots level, particularly women's hockey. We envision the National Women's Hockey League as a strong feeder system for the National team. This partnership is a win-win, and we look forward to a fruitful collaboration in the years to come."

The three-year collaboration underscores its role in positively shaping the sports and gender equality landscape. The partnership also aligns with the company’s #SheTheDifference campaign, an initiative to celebrate, uplift, and support women. The partnership aims to elevate women's hockey by tackling essential components such as providing specialised coaching, the provision of training equipment, nutritional support and the organisation of camps and tournaments to foster growth.

Announcing the association, Rajiv Gupta, Director, The Coca-Cola India Foundation said, “At Coca-Cola India, we believe in the transformative power of sports to inspire and unite communities. Partnering with Hockey India advances our shared vision of creating a supportive environment for the development of sports and athletes alike. With this, we are proud to sponsor women in sports and contribute to their success on the global stage.”

Sporting Ethos, is the implementation partner of the program, offering valuable support for the players to reach their full potential and bring out the best of the Indian sports scene.