No central funding to Odisha for Men’s Hockey World Cup

Bhubaneswar: Another chapter was added to ongoing Centre-State tussle over a series of issues after Union Sports Minister made it clear that the Centre will not allocate fund for Odisha to host Men’s Hockey World Cup starting in November.

There will be no central fund for the international men’s hockey event scheduled to begin from November in Bhubaneswar, informed Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore to the Parliament while replying to a question asked by BJD MP Jhina Hikaka yesterday.

Reacting to the statement, Sports and Youth Services Minister Chandra Sarathi Behera questioned the Centre’s morality on organising the hockey tournament in Odisha.

Whenever a State hosts an international sports event, it becomes the matter of pride for entire Nation. The Centre can provide financial aid to the State through the Indian Olympic Association, he said.

However, it is unfortunate that Centre will not extend financial support to the State for the Men’s Hockey World Cup, the minister said.

Notably, the upcoming Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup is scheduled from 28 November to 16 December 2018, at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.