After the stupendous success of Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup in 2018 and the scale at which it was hosted, FIH had announced last year that the 2023 FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup will be hosted in Odisha, for a second consecutive time, at two venues, Bhubaneswar and Rourkela.
After the Olympics, the Hockey World Cup is the most important tournament in hockey and there is already excitement galore amongst hockey lovers especially from Sundergarh and Rourkela region. The steel city of Rourkela in Sundergarh district of Odisha, is gearing up to host the tournament at a scale equal to the 2018 edition if not better and for this, Minister for Sports and Youth Services, Odisha, Tusharkanti Behera, Chief Secretary, Odisha, Asit Kumar Tripathy, International Hockey Federation , President, Dr. Narinder Dhruv Batra, senior officials from State Department of Sports and Youth Services , Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation of Odisha (IDCO), Hockey India (HI) and Sundergarh and Rourkela administration convened to review, assess and lay the road map and systematically plan subsequent actions at the core of which lies sports infrastructure development as per FIH standards and urban development involving large scale upgradation of Rourkela city.
According to Minister for Sports and Youth Services, Odisha, Tusharkanti Behera, “The FIH Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup India 2023 is expected to be even larger than 2018 and with matches to be hosted in two venues, it will be a challenge and an opportunity. Bhubaneswar having hosted the World Cup recently has most of the arrangements in place. Rourkela, a planned and developed urban city, will go through large scale upgradation. World class infrastructure at both the venues will enable Odisha to once again deliver a successful and memorable tournament and leave behind a valuable and lasting legacy. We will create all necessary arrangements to host players, officials, sports enthusiasts from around the world, and give them a memorable experience. Like Bhubaneswar, Rourkela will aim to leave the sports fraternity in awe.”
Shedding light on the preparation ahead of the event, FIH President, Dr. Narinder Dhruv Batra shared, “The FIH World Cup, either for Men or for Women, is the flagship event of hockey’s world governing body. Therefore, it is essential that all operational matters are conducted in a state-of-the-art way, so that athletes and fans can enjoy a thrilling time! Furthermore, it’s important for the development of our sport to extend the number of venues around the world to be able to welcome such a competition. I’m really pleased with the commitment of the public authorities of Rourkela, which I’d like to thank wholeheartedly, and I’m convinced it will be a great venue for the FIH Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup India 2023.”
