Bhubaneswar: Odisha will host the Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup at the Kalinga Stadium here from November 24 to December 5, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced Thursday. A total of 16 teams are expected to take part in the tournament, including India.
At a function held here, Patnaik said Hockey India (HI) had recently approached the Odisha government to support them for the men’s junior world Cup to be held in two months time. It happened as many other states showed reluctance to host the tournament in times of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Others present at the function were Odisha Sports Minister, Tusharkanti Behera, FIH president Narinder Batra and HI Secretary-General Rajinder Singh.
“It is a short notice for making the arrangement for such an event, especially during the pandemic period. However, since the country’s prestige is at stake, we have readily agreed to host it,” the chief minister said. “I hope the reigning Indian team will take advantage of the home condition and emerge victorious again,” added Patnaik.
The Odisha chief minister also also unveiled the logo and the trophy for the event. Also present at the function was FIH president Narinder Batra. He thanked Patnaik for hosting the tournament in Odisha.
It should also be stated here that Odisha is the official sponsors of the senior Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams since 2018 and has extended the deal to 2033. The Odisha government has been in the forefront of promoting hockey in India and that is one of the main reasons, HI decided to request the state to once again the junior-level tournament.
The Kalinga Stadium and the Odisha government had successfully hosted the Champions Trophy in 2014, the senior World Cup in 2018. A total of 16 teams had participated in the senior World Championships.
A robust infrastructure and the state government’s support for the game, has made Odisha the ‘hockey hub’ of India in the last few years. Odisha will also host 2023 senior men’s World Cup. The matches of the tournament will be played here and Rourkela in Sundargarh district.
The last time the tournament was held in 2016 at Lucknow. India emerged champions beating Belgium 2-1 in the final. There can be no doubt, that this tournament will generate huge interest in the state. It is however, not yet known whether crowds will be allowed during the matches keeping in mind restrictions imposed due to Covid-19.