Indian Oil to power India’s first corporate women’s hockey team

New Delhi: In a historic first for any corporate in India, the country's largest energy company, Indian Oil will now power the Indian women's hockey team. Nine players of the Indian Hockey team have become part of the Indian Oil family as Indian Oil inducted them onto its rolls under its new sports policy, which promotes women's hockey.

The nine women's hockey players include Suman Devi Thoudam, Rajwinder Kaur, Rashmita Minz, Sharmila Devi, Ishika Chaudhary, Bichu Devi Kharibam, Deepika, Baljeet Kaur and Akshata Dhekale. These nine players come from various states which include Haryana, Punjab, Manipur, Odisha and Maharashtra. These women sports stars have participated in international tournaments, including the Tokyo Olympics, Asian Champions Trophy among others. The nine players were handed over their appointment letters by Indian Oil's Chairman SM Vaidya in the presence of functional Directors of Indian Oil and Federation of International Hockey (FIH) President, Dr Narinder Dhruv Batra who is also the President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Speaking at the induction ceremony of the nine female hockey players on International's Women Day, highlighting Indian Oil's social commitment, Vaidya said: "We recognise how sports is the most effective vehicle of ushering in enduring social change. Thus, Indian Oil's commitment to gender equality had to manifest in our sporting outreaches. Recently, Indian Oil was conferred "Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar" for encouragement to sports through CSR. This recognition at the highest level symbolizes Indian Oil's contribution to the promotion of sports over the last several decades."

Mentioning Indian Oil's revamped sports policy the CMD said, "Last year, we released our revised sports policy, included the provision for recruiting women hockey players for the first time. I am glad that within a few months of the policy's rollout, we are witnessing the conversion of intent into action."

Addressing the gathering, Indian Oil's Director (Human Resources) Ranjan Kumar Mohapatra, "Sports is not just a CSR obligation for Indian Oil but is part of our philosophy of Pehle Indian Phir Oil. We recognise the power sports have to unify a nation and bring people together in resonance with the national spirit."

Indian Oil has taken up the mantle to support Women's Hockey which holds immense potential as witnessed by the entire world in the Tokyo Olympics. Indian Oil is determined to harness the budding talent in Women's Hockey present across India and give them a platform to bring laurels for the nation. The recruitment of these nine players in the Indian Oil fold is the first of many steps by the corporation to take women's hockey in India to the pinnacle of success.

(PSU Watch– India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy is now on Google News. Click here to follow. Also, join PSU Watch Channel in your Telegram. You may also follow us on Twitter here and stay updated.)