Vedanta’s Kalinga Lancers ready for action as HIL 2024 schedule is announced

11th November 2024

New Delhi, November 11, 2024: Vedanta’s Kalinga Lancers are set to begin their journey with a powerful lineup and a well-structured game plan as the much-awaited Hockey India League (HIL) arrives after the hiatus of seven years. The team, after dominating the player auction by securing international stars and emerging local talent, is now gearing up for some of the most anticipated matches of the season as the schedule is announced.

The coveted league, which will run from 28th December 2024 to 1st February 2025, brings together eight fierce teams competing for the coveted HIL championship title across iconic venues in Rourkela and Ranchi. The Kalinga Lancers will kick off their campaign on December 30, 2024, in Rourkela, against UP Rudras. With matches stacked against formidable opponents like the Tamil Nadu Dragons, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, and Delhi SG Pipers, the team has a challenging but promising path ahead. The squad, which includes seasoned players like Krishan B Pathak, Aran Zalewski, and Alexander Hendrickx, along with rising Indian talents like Rosan Kujur and Mukesh Toppo, are expected to deliver a stellar performance throughout the tournament.

Commenting on the finalization of the schedule, Sunil Gupta, COO of Vedanta Aluminium, said, “This is a pivotal moment not just for the Kalinga Lancers but for hockey in Odisha and India as a whole. With a solid squad and a strategic roadmap in place, we are excited to compete in front of passionate fans, especially at our homeground in Rourkela. Our mission is to inspire and bring back the fervour for hockey in this region while striving for victory in every match.”

Under the guidance of experienced supporting staff, the Kalinga Lancers will focus on dynamic, fast-paced gameplay combined with tactical discipline. The team is preparing intensively, both on and off the field, with an emphasis on building cohesion, defense, and maximizing scoring opportunities.

David John, Strategy Director, Kalinga Lancers, added, “The schedule gives us ample opportunity to showcase the depth and strength of our squad. We’ve put in place rigorous training and team-building initiatives to ensure we approach each match with confidence and precision.”

Vedanta’s involvement with the Kalinga Lancers is part of its broader commitment to fostering youth development, community engagement, and sports infrastructure in Odisha. Beyond hockey, Vedanta has a strong track record of promoting local talent through grassroots initiatives in various sports, contributing to the state’s rich sporting culture.

As the HIL season approaches, fans can look forward to high-octane matches and a rejuvenation of hockey in Odisha. With Vedanta’s Kalinga Lancers leading the charge, the stage is set for an exhilarating competition.

Kalinga Lancers match schedule:

30-Dec-24: Vedanta Kalinga Lancers vs UP Rudras – Rourkela
03-Jan-25: Vedanta Kalinga Lancers vs Tamil Nadu Dragons – Rourkela
05-Jan-25: Vedanta Kalinga Lancers vs Soorma Hockey Club – Rourkela
06-Jan-25: Vedanta Kalinga Lancers vs Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers – Rourkela
09-Jan-25: Vedanta Kalinga Lancers vs Gonasika – Rourkela
12-Jan-25: Vedanta Kalinga Lancers vs Hyderabad Toofans – Rourkela
16-Jan-25: Vedanta Kalinga Lancers vs Delhi SG Pipers – Rourkela
19-Jan-25: Vedanta Kalinga Lancers vs Delhi SG Pipers – Rourkela
24-Jan-25: Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers vs Vedanta Kalinga Lancers – Ranchi
27-Jan-25: Vedanta Kalinga Lancers vs Soorma Hockey Club – Rourkela

Vedanta’s presence in Odisha is significant, with the company operating India’s largest aluminium plant (1.8 MTPA) in Jharsuguda, and a state-of-the-art alumina refinery (3.5 MTPA) in Kalahandi. Vedanta Aluminium has created more than 1,00,000 direct and indirect jobs in the state, further solidifying Odisha’s position as a leader in India’s industrial landscape. Additionally, through investments in coal, bauxite, ferrochrome, and iron ore, Vedanta plays a critical role in advancing the “Make in India” initiative, contributing nearly 50% of India’s aluminium production and reducing the nation’s dependency on imports.

About Vedanta Limited:

Vedanta Limited, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Limited, is one of the world’s leading Oil & Gas and Metals company with significant operations in Oil & Gas, Zinc, Lead, Silver, Copper, Iron Ore, Steel, and Aluminium & Power across India, South Africa and Namibia. For two decades, Vedanta has been contributing significantly to nation building. Governance and sustainable development are at the core of Vedanta's strategy, with a strong focus on health, safety, and environment. Vedanta has put in place a comprehensive framework to be the ESG leader in the natural resources sector. Vedanta is committed to reducing carbon emissions to zero by 2050 or sooner and has pledged $5 billion over the next 10 years to accelerate the transition to net zero operations. Giving back is in the DNA of Vedanta, which is focused on enhancing the lives of local communities. The company’s flagship social impact program, Nand Ghars, have been set up as model anganwadis focused on eradicating child malnutrition, providing education, healthcare, and empowering women with skill development. Under the aegis of the Anil Agarwal Foundation, the umbrella entity for Vedanta’s social initiatives, the Vedanta group has pledged Rs 5000 crore over the next five years on social impact programmes with a thrust on nutrition, women & child development, healthcare, animal welfare, and grass-root level sports. Vedanta and the group companies have been featured in Dow Jones Sustainability Index, and was conferred Frost & Sullivan Sustainability Awards 2020, Golden Peacock Award for excellence in Corporate Governance 2022 and certified as a Great Place to Work 2022. Vedanta Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange.

For more information, please visit www.vedantalimited.com

About Vedanta Aluminium Business:

Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.37 million tonnes in FY24. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 1st in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the aluminium industry, a reflection of its leading sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.

For more information, please log on to www.vedantaaluminium.com

Disclaimer:

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” – that is, statements related to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “should” or “will.” Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. For us, uncertainties arise from the behaviour of financial and metals markets including the London Metal Exchange, fluctuations in interest and or exchange rates and metal prices; from future integration of acquired businesses; and from numerous other matters of national, regional, and global scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive or regulatory nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements.

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