Hockey India delegation visits under-construction Birsa Munda international hockey stadium

Rourkela: A high-level delegation of Hockey India visited the construction site of the Birsa Munda international hockey stadium at BPUT campus in Rourkela. Along with the main stadium, the delegation members also reviewed the construction work of spectators’ gallery, practice ground, players’ accommodation facility and changing rooms.

President, Hockey India Padma Shri Dilip Kumar Tirkey, General Secretary Bholanath Singh, Executive Director Cdr RK Srivastava and other members of the delegation heaped praises on the Odisha government for initiating various steps in making the biggest hockey carnival of the world, i.e the FIH Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023, a memorable event.

“The largest Hockey stadium in India is being constructed at Rourkela. The work is going on in full swing. Hockey India is happy with the preparations made for the Hockey World Cup,” said the Hockey India President Tirkey.

“We saw the construction works at the Birsa Munda international hockey stadium. It is of high quality. The State government has done well and is keen on successfully hosting the mega event. Hockey India will extend all necessary cooperation for the smooth conduct of the World Cup,” said the Hockey India General Secretary Singh.

The Hockey India high-level delegation was accorded a grand welcome on its arrival in Rourkela on Wednesday evening. Later, the delegation held discussions with office-bearers of Sundargarh District Hockey Association on the preparation for successful conduct of the Hockey World Cup.

The delegation gave special importance to making the marquee event attractive and memorable as it is being hosted for the first time in the cradle of Indian Hockey, Sundargarh.

Odisha is host to the World Cup Hockey to be held in coming January. Matches of the grand tournament have been split between Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. India’s largest hockey stadium is being built for the purpose in Rourkela, which has a seating capacity for 20,000 spectators.

Nevertheless, Odisha is the first state to host two back-to-back World Cup Hockey tournaments in India where the event has been organised thrice, so far.

District Sports Officer (DSO) Prashant Kumar Tarai and several other officials were present during the visit of Hockey India delegates to the Birsa Munda international hockey stadium.