Simanta Mohanty Krishna is associated with Sports Authority of India (SAI) for the last 32 years as a hockey coach. He was at the SAI center in Kolkata from 1998 to 2006, was transferred to Ranchi, and returned to Kolkata in 2020. 

Simanta who also worked as the coach of the state women's hockey team sounded excited about the newly-launched developmental scheme launched by SAI. He feels this new scheme called the National Center of Excellence (NCOE) which was launched in 2019 is going to be a big booster for the development of hockey across the country. 

Women's hockey has been included in six SAI NCOEs in India. Along with Kolkata SAI women's hockey is being nurtured under NCOE schemes in Lucknow, Bhopal, Delhi, Manipur, and Aurangabad SAI centers. This scheme has not been launched only for hockey. In Kolkata, the NCOE scheme includes gymnastics, table tennis, archery, and athletics. 

Simanta said, "In a bid to develop the sports persons SAI had once NSTC scheme. The players of 12 to 14 years could improve, but unfortunately, this scheme had to be closed around 1998-99. Then SAI launched Sports Training Center (STC) scheme. But under this scheme, the players were not getting infrastructural facilities properly. So, that scheme also did not last and finally NCOE scheme was introduced in 2019. This scheme is extremely helpful, at least for hockey I can say."

Presently, under the NCOE scheme 29 girls from 16 to 18 years old train under Simanta and his two assistant coaches, Ekta Bharati and Prakhar Patel. The maximum age limit for a girl staying under this scheme is 25 years. Sujata Kujur a girl from the Kolkata SAI NCOE scheme, has already ensured a berth in the junior Indian girls' team. Simanta revealed three more girls from the Kolkata SAI NCOE scheme who have the potential to shine at the international level. They are Sanjana Horo, Punam Mundu, Pinky Vello.

Commenting on the nourishment of the girls under this scheme the experienced coach divulged that, SAI provides all modern amenities for the girls under this scheme. Simanta added, "More than Rs 1000 has been allotted by SAI for each girl's food only every day. Cooks have been appointed separately for them. Even under this scheme, the SAI has allotted Rs 50 thousand for the exposure of each girl. After the scheme was launched in 2019, I was sent to Kenya from Kolkata SAI NCOE with the team on an exposure. Last year also, eight girls from Kolkata SAI NCOE were called up in the team for the trip to the Netherlands. But the trip was canceled due to some technical reasons."

Simanta is now busy with the Bengal girls' forthcoming engagement, the junior national championship to be held in Rourkela from 27th June. Among the 18-member Bengal girls' team four are from Bengal and the remaining 14 are likely to be selected from the girls who are at Kolkata SAI NCOE team. The 58-year-old coach is hopeful that ultimately this NCOE scheme will help Bengal hockey also to regain its past glory by producing quality international players.