Bhubaneswar: With 100 days left for the Men’s Hockey World Cup 2018, preparations and promotions are in full swing for the coveted event.
In this regard, the Sports and Youth department Monday shared a video in the social media wherein several artistes and sportsperson from the state are seen speaking about Hockey and the state.
The video opened with an extensive invitation by Odissi danseuse Ileana Citarasti to all. She said “I want everybody to come, you’ll have an amazing time here in Odisha. It is a wonderful state.”
The icing on the cake was the byte from former English Hockey player Philip Wilkinson, who wished all the best to the organisers and welcomed everybody for the mega event. He said, “I had started playing hockey from a very young age and also visited India in 1977. It’s a wonderful place and I wish everyone all the best.”
Likewise, Argentine Odissi dancer Anandini Dasi also praised the state and urged her supporters in different parts of the country and the world to witness the extravaganza in November.
That apart, ace sprinter from the state Dutee Chand, who at present is in Jakarta for Asian Games, was delighted with the state hosting the 14th edition of the world cup. “It (Bhubaneswar) was being called the Temple City and now, Sports City with all these sports events happening all so frequently!” she exclaimed.
First woman national shuttler from Odisha Rutuparna Panda also featured in the video.
In his dulcet tones and adorable smile, actor Sabyasachi Mishra too spoke about the glory of the state and world cup. “With as many as 16 countries coming here to play, I am glad Bhubaneswar is becoming the sports Capital” he mentioned.
Towards the end of the video, ex-captain of Indian hockey team and former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Rajya Sabha member Dilip Tirkey was seen holding a hockey stick and raising it up in the air with dancers joining him as music played in the background.
The Men’s Hockey World Cup will start November 28 this year at Kalinga Stadium here. Altogether 36 matches will be played during the 19-day tournament. Two matches would be played a day from 5 pm onwards with the quarter finals scheduled for December 12 and 13. Semi-final and final matches are slated for December 15 and 16 respectively. This is the third time that India will be hosting the mega event, which will be the first for the state.