It went on to host several high-profile events, leaving a global impression.
From hosting the Hockey Men’s World Cup for the second time in a row to completing the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela in a record 15 months, the Odisha Government, led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has had a dream ride.
The Odisha government has actively and heavily invested in international hockey over the last two decades, hosting large-scale multi-nation events such as the FIH Hockey World Cup, FIH Series Finals, FIH World League, and FIH Champions Trophy.
The state is no stranger to major hockey events, having hosted the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup in 2021 and the FIH Hockey Pro League for the past four years, following the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup in 2018.
The joint venues of Kalinga Stadium (Bhubaneswar) and the brand-new Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium (Rourkela) hosted the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup from January 13 to 29, 2023, enthralling hockey fans all over the world.
