Deja Vu Moment: Odisha To Host Men’s Junior World Cup In 2 Months’ Time

Bhubaneswar: The Men’s FIH Hockey Junior World Cup will be held at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar from November 24 to December 5.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday said Hockey India recently approached Odisha to support them for the Men’s Junior World Cup to be held in two month’s time. “It is short notice for making the arrangements for such an event, especially during the pandemic period. Since the country’s prestige is at stake, we have readily agreed to host it,” he said.

It was earlier scheduled to be held in Guwahati, Assam.

Indian junior team had won the last world cup. “I hope the reigning Indian team will take advantage of the home ground and emerge victorious again,” he added.

Naveen then unveiled the logo and the trophy for the tournament. FIH President Dr Narinder Dhruv Batra was present on the occasion.

This international event will feature 16 countries – India, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, South Africa, Egypt, Belgium, England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, USA, Canada, Chile and Argentina.

After successfully hosting the 2018 men’s hockey World Cup, Odisha will also stage the 2023 edition of the tournament.

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Odisha has been sponsoring the senior national men’s and women’s hockey teams since 2018. The CM had announced to continue to support the teams for another 10 years after the men’s team won bronze at Tokyo Olympics. The women’s team also created history by making it to the semi-final.

India’s largest hockey stadium is being built in Rourkela.

However, this is the first time that Odisha shouldered the responsibility to host an event at such short notice. In 2017, Bhubaneswar got ready for the prestigious 22nd Asian Athletics Championships in just 90 days after Ranchi, which was to host the event earlier, pulled out at the last minute.