New Delhi, Feb 8: Sahara India on Wednesday renewed its support to Indian Hockey by announcing that it will sponsor the Men & Women National and Junior Hockey Teams for a period of 5 years.

The sponsorship amount is 170 percent higher to the sponsorship amount given earlier by Sahara to the Hockey team. This sponsorship is a part of Sahara’s program to promote sports at ground level, the group said.

In addition to this, Sahara has adopted Indian Boxing, Wrestling, Archery, Shooting, Track & Field and Tennis covering support of a total of 95 sportsmen in these 6 games who are potential medal winners, until after London Olympics 2012 and is associated with other a sports at various levels.

Speaking on the occasion, Subrata Roy Sahara, Managing Worker & Chairman, Sahara India, said, “It is our national game and we are proud to be associated with this game and are elated to continue our patronage and support for the game. "We will achieve greater laurels and success in the sport of hockey in the coming years and Sahara India Pariwar is committed to the development of sport at all levels,” he added.

Narendra Batra, General Secretary, Hockey India, said, “I take this opportunity to thank Sahara India Pariwar, specially ‘Saharasri’ Mr. Subrata Roy Sahara who is the greatest patron of sports, for coming forward and supporting the sport of Hockey.“ “I am sure this association would encourage all the players to perform even better in the forthcoming International tournaments,” he said.

Sahara India has been the official sponsor of the Indian Hockey Team (Senior and Junior Hockey Teams) since 2003. Apart from being sponsor to the Indian Hockey Team, Sahara India played host to Indian hockey team in Lucknow for their coaching camp for Champion’s Trophy – 2003. The organization arranged for the boarding, lodging, practice camps and traveling of the entire Indian Hockey Team.

As a part of the Hockey World Cup preparation Sahara organised a physical conditioning team for the whole contingent in Germany. Sahara India also joined hands with Federation Internationale De Hockey (FIH) in 2004, the World’s apex Body for Hockey, and became the 4th Global Partner of the Federation for a period of 3 years.