By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR/CUTTACK:Hockey’s strong association with Odisha and its lessons in discipline, teamwork and resilience can help strengthen the professional qualities of police personnel, said Dr Satyajit Nayak, IGP, Central Range, while addressing the 76th State Police Hockey Championship-2026 at the Kalinga Stadium here. Dr Nayak said the championship was not merely a sporting competition but also an opportunity for police personnel to develop qualities essential to their profession. Hockey has become an integral part of Odisha’s sporting identity, with players from the State making their mark from grassroots grounds to the international stage.
The demands of policing — physical fitness, mental alertness, discipline, resilience and the ability to perform under pressure — closely mirror the qualities required on the hockey field. “No player can win a match alone. Every pass requires trust and every defensive move requires coordination,” Dr Nayak said, stressing that teamwork and collective responsibility were equally important in policing.
