FIH, Hockey India delegations inspect progress of India's largest hockey stadium at Rourkela

World Cup 2023. The FIH and Hockey India delegations, during their visit to the steel city, inspected the infrastructure at the stadium and other aspects like connectivity, logistics, accommodation, city beautification and security arrangements with senior state government officers. They appreciated the support extended by Odisha towards development of hockey after sports secretary R Vineel Krishna made a presentation on the preparations.

The prestigious quadrennial tournament is scheduled to be held from 13 January to 29 January 2023 both at the Kalinga Stadium in the city and at the Birsa Munda Stadium. The state government officials informed the FIH and Hockey India delegations that the work of the main stadium and other components like main entrance, galleries, accommodation for players and officials, changing rooms and state-of-the-art gym and toilets are going in full swing which will be completed in the next two months. "What we have seen here today is fantastic and I would like to congratulate the Odisha government and Hockey India for the work they have done.

We look forward to having a good World Cup here and in Bhubaneswar," Seif Ahmed, acting president of the FIH after reviewing the progress. Ahmed said that Odisha's eagerness to be the perfect host, gives the FIH the confidence that the collective effort of the world hockey governing body, Hockey India and state government will yet again impress upon the hockey world. CEO, FIH Thierry Weil said that the Rourkela hockey stadium will be the largest stadium in India and among the largest stadiums in the world.