Gwalior Hockey Academy sets the benchmark in player development

PANAJI

A great deal of effort, time, and expertise has gone into setting up the hockey academies by the Madhya Pradesh government, with all matters related to hockey conducted on professional lines.

The Gwalior Hockey Academy employs four full-time hockey coaches, while the men’s hockey academy is based in Bhopal.

In Gwalior, academies for Athletics, Badminton, Cricket, Equestrian, Martial Arts, Shooting, Water Sports, and Archery are also based — all of which come under the Sports and Youth Welfare Department of the Madhya Pradesh government.

The academy has both day boarders and a residential wing in the girls’ section, housing around 130 girls in the hostel and approximately 30 day boarders, categorized into three age groups.

“They start at the age of 10–12 years and remain in the academy until the age of 23. Some players get jobs and leave the academy by the age of 19,” said one of the coaches.

The men’s academy in Bhopal has produced around 14 international players who have represented the Indian senior team, in addition to several players for age-group national teams. The academy currently houses around 64 trainees.

It was not immediately known whether any girl players from the Gwalior academy have made it to the national senior or age-group teams, as efforts to obtain the roll of honour from the academy proved unsuccessful.

According to coaches at the academy, teams previously travelled regularly to the Netherlands to train under Dutch coaches. Some Dutch coaches also visited Madhya Pradesh to conduct training sessions. However, these exchange programs were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic and have not yet resumed.

“We are hopeful that the foreign exposure trips will start soon,” said a coach.

She also mentioned that several Indian coaches—specialists in drag flicks, short corners, and other set-piece situations—are part of the academy’s training structure and visit the facility from time to time.