The news that Sports Authority of India has been contemplating a national academy over last one year has come true with 24 players having been inducted after first spell of selection trials held a month, and most of them joining boarding and lodging facility in Delhi.

The concept and formation of a National Hockey Academy, to provide excellence to select few on national scale, has been in the air for more than year.

It was the idea of Sports Authority of India, which has already put in place one National Academy for football and swimming.

However, the hockey academy could not be established in planned time due to lack of interest from the stakeholders part.

It is learnt the trials had to be postponed twice.

As a concept, Hockey India will provide list of probables for trials, while Sports Authority of India will provide infrastructure (paly fields, accommodation for players) and tournament and coaching facility.

Hockey India has sent names of about 70 young talents, scouted from Sub-Junior Nationals held in the last two years.

A selection committee consisting of Roelant Oltmans, Indian national team chief coach, former Olympians MP Ganesh, Jagbir Singh and World Cup player Rajesh Chauhan could select final 24 for the National Hockey Academy.

The high budgeted proposal thus has taken off.

Last week, about 20 out of 24 selected have joined and the training has commenced with Dronacharya award winning coach NS Saini in the helm of coaching affairs.

However, the idea of running a stream for girls did not get much success, which we will apprise in appropriate time.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to announce the formation of National Hockey Academy Naitonal Sports Day.