Bhubaneswar, 03 Aug, 2026: Hockey Ace Foundation (HAF), a joint initiative of Tata Steel and Tata Trusts, celebrated a proud milestone as its cadet Ashish Tani Purti and Abhijeet Hazary, Video Analyst at the Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High-Performance Centre (ONTHHPC), played key roles in India’s title-winning campaign at the Men’s Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship, held in Muscat, Oman, on July 25, 2026.
India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 3-1 in a thrilling final to clinch the championship, completing an unbeaten campaign after topping the Elite Pool standings. With the victory, India also secured qualification for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup, marking another milestone in the country’s growing success in the Hockey5s format.
The triumph is yet another testament to Hockey Ace Foundation’s high-performance ecosystem, which continues to nurture talented players and technical professionals capable of excelling on the international stage.
Ashish Tani Purti, a promising cadet of the Naval Tata Hockey Academy (NTHA), Jamshedpur, secured his second consecutive international gold medal, having also been part of India’s gold medal-winning campaign at the Asia Cup in Japan last month. His consistent performances reflect the Academy’s commitment to developing world-class young hockey talent.
Abhijeet Hazary, Video Analyst at the Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High-Performance Centre, a joint initiative of the Government of Odisha, Tata Steel & Tata Trusts, made a significant contribution through tactical analysis and match preparation that supported India’s unbeaten campaign. He has previously served as Video Analyst for the gold medal-winning Indian team at the Asia Cup in Japan and the bronze medal-winning Indian Women’s team, further reinforcing his credentials at the international level.
Congratulating the duo, Mr. Gurmeet Singh Rao, Project Director, Hockey Ace Foundation, said, “This achievement reflects the strength of our high-performance ecosystem. Ashish and Abhijeet have made us proud with their contribution to India’s gold medal-winning campaign and qualification for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup. We wish them continued success.”
The success of the Naval Tata Hockey Academy, Jamshedpur, and the Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High-Performance Centre underscores Hockey Ace Foundation’s commitment to strengthening Indian hockey through world-class coaching, scientific training, and holistic player development, while producing elite players and support professionals for the global stage.
