The Indian hockey team will play Spain on Friday in their Pool D match to begin their FIH Hockey World Cup 2023 campaign. After India’s podium finish at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022, the blue sticks under Harmanpreet Singh’s leadership are aiming for their first World Cup trophy in 48 years.
In an interview with ANI, Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh stated, “The way our players bagged an Olympic medal after 41 years in the same way we have done well.”
As teams finish up their preparations for the tournament, the host city of Rourkela is buzzing with activity and energy. In Bhubaneswar, Argentina and South Africa will compete in the World Cup’s opening match.
The efforts of Hockey India and the Odisha government can be seen in the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium. The construction of the stadium took a record 15 months. The stadium is the largest all-seater hockey stadium in the world, with a capacity of 20,000 people.
“World Cup Village”
The stadium also has a “World Cup Village” with over 225 rooms and Taj-serviced star facilities. Beautiful murals cover the walls of Rourkela, and sculptures based on hockey are scattered throughout the venues to show the strong hockey culture in Odisha. Throughout the city, several fan parks have been constructed.
“Hockey India is buzzing with life. It has been well prepared by Hockey India, the Odisha Government, and the Indian Government as a whole. We have done everything in our power to ensure the success of this World Cup, which I believe will be the best ever organized.
In the future, if a World Cup is organized as well as this one, it will only take place in India. We’ve prepared for it from every angle. It is in front of you, and if you see it, you will all decide for yourself rather than us. What we have done to the best of our ability from the Government of Odisha and Hockey India is what I believe we could have done.
Bhola Nath Singh stated, “We have full expectations and believe it will be a glorious and memorable World Cup.”
The Hockey World Cup 2022 will be held in India, giving Harmanpreet Singh’s team a great chance to make a name for themselves and at least finish on the podium. The entire country has been waiting for this since 1975 when they became champions under Ajit Pal Singh’s leadership