In India, field hockey, or simply hockey, is one of the most popular sports. Hockey, the country’s national sport, has a large following among fans. Besides, the presentation of associations, for example, the Hockey India Association has facilitated help the ubiquity of the game. Quite possibly of the earliest game where India made worldwide progress. Major Dhyan Chand, Balbir Singh, and Udham Singh, among others, were some of the game’s greatest players who were born into the hockey family. In this blog, we will examine the top ten Indian hockey stadiums.
The round of hockey basically includes two groups with each group playing with ten outfield players and a goalkeeper. The target of the game is to drive the ball with the assistance of the hockey stick and drive it into the adversary’s net. The game is dominated by the group that scores the most objectives. Hockey games are played on a boarded indoor surface, artificial turf, watered turf, synthetic field, or grass.
Presently to play the game flawlessly, having the right foundation and facilities is fundamental. And it is true that the country is home to numerous cutting-edge arenas where hockey can be played. Let’s take a look at some of the country’s best hockey venues.
Here are the Top 10 Best Hockey Stadiums in India:
10. Mohali International Hockey Stadium
Getting going the rundown, we have the Mohali Worldwide Hockey Arena. This arena filled in as the home ground for the Punjab Champions during the Hockey India Association. inaugurated in September 2013 by Prakash Badal Singh, the Punjab Chief Minister at the time. The development of the arena started in 2011. The stadium’s distinctive feature is the pink and blue astroturf, which has a seating capacity of more than 13,500. It’s likewise worth focusing on here that during the Coronavirus times, this arena filled in as a shoddy prison for individuals who defied the lockdown norms. They were temporarily housed here.
9. Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium
The recently developed Birsa Munda Arena in Rourkela was the second scene for the 2023 Hockey World Cup. One of India’s largest hockey stadiums, the Birsa Munda Stadium has 20,846 seats. On January 20, 2023, Guinness World Records declares it to be the world’s largest fully seated hockey arena. It has a seating limit of more than 20,000 super durable seats.
8. Chandigarh Hockey Stadium
Next up is the Chandigarh Hockey arena. One of the biggest arenas in the country, this setting brags a seating limit more than 30,000 individuals. This arena filled in as the home ground for the Chandigarh Dynamos and Chandigarh Comets in the Head Hockey Association and the Worldwide championship Hockey separately. The stadium was constructed in 1988 and renovated in 2007. The Indira Gandhi International Gold Cup, Asian School Hockey, and other tournaments have all been held at the hockey Stadium.
7. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Hockey Stadium
Additionally known by the name of Raipur Worldwide Arena, it is situated in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. After the Rajnandgaon Worldwide Arena, this is Chhattisgarh’s second astroturf arena. Implicit a record season of north of four months, the hockey arena was introduced in November 2015; with a seating capacity of more than 4,000 people. The very first match played in this arena was among India and Australia, which finished in an impasse.
6. Major Dhyan Chand Stadium
Major Dhyan Chand Stadium was renamed Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in 2002 in honor of the legendary figure. It used to be called the National Stadium. It was constructed in 1933 as a multipurpose stadium in Delhi by the Maharaja of Bhavnagar. It was given the name “Irwin Amphitheatre” as a gift to Delhi. Before the Asian Games in 1951, the stadium’s name was changed to The National Stadium. It has three synthetic pitches, one for practice and two for international standards, with a seating capacity of 16,200.
5. Kalinga Stadium
Situated in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, this hockey arena fills in as a multipurpose arena. The stadium was established in 1978 by the former Chief Minister of Odisha, Late Biju Patnaik, and has a capacity of more than 16,000 people. One of the greatest hockey arenas in the country, it fills in as the headquarters for the Kalinga Lancers in the Hockey India Association. In addition, events such as the Men’s FIH Pro League 2020, the Men’s and Women’s Olympic qualifiers 2019, the Hockey Champions Trophy 2014, and the Men’s Hockey World Cup 2018 are held in the hockey arena of Kalinga stadium.
4. Shilaroo Hockey Stadium
Situated in Shilaroo, a little town situated around 55 kilometers in front of Shimla, this hockey arena is the most elevated on the planet arranged at a height of more than 8000 feet. The arena was developed in 2010 by the Games Authority of India. In addition, the stadium has indoor facilities for handball, volleyball, badminton, and a variety of other sports, as well as a gymnasium and hostel facilities, making it one of the most cutting-edge facilities for hockey.
3. Maulana Md. Tayabullah Hockey Stadium
The Maulana Md. Tayabullah Hockey Stadium is in the Assamese city of Guwahati. It has a capacity of more than 2,000 people and has hosted numerous important games in the past. The arena was the hockey setting for the Public Rounds of India in 2007, the twelfth South Asian Games in 2016, and the 2020 Khelo India Youth Games.
2. Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium
This arena is a multi-reason arena in Firozpur, Punjab. This well-known stadium attracts a large number of visitors each year. Numerous Indian greats like Major Dhyan Chand, Jograj Singh, Surjit Singh, Gurinder Singh, and Bhagwant Singh have played here. The arena was recently known by the name, Nehru Park.
1. The Kollam International Hockey Stadium
The Kollam International Hockey Stadium was the first of its kind in Kerala and was located in the city of Kollam. It had a capacity of over 5,000 people. The stadium, which is in the middle of Ashtamundi Lake’s beauty and has a very scenic vibe, is a must-see when traveling through this area.
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