Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup To Kick Off At Rourkela Stadium; India Opens Against Spain

Bhubaneswar: Indian hockey team will start its 2023 Hockey World Cup campaign against Spain at the newly-built Birsa Munda International Stadium in Rourkela on January 13.

Olympics bronze medallists India, who are currently world No. 5 in the FIH rankings, are clubbed alongside England (6), Spain (8) and World Cup debutants Wales (16) in pool D.

While India’s game starts at 7 pm, the tournament will start in Rourkela with England taking on Wales in the first game. Reigning champions and world No. 2 Belgium, who won the title in 2018 in Odisha, will take on South Korea in Bhubaneswar.

Odisha is hosting the quadrennial world championship for the second consecutive time and the matches will be played at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar alongside Rourkela, where the host will also play the second match against England on January 15. The final group match of hosts India is in the capital city against Wales on January 19.

The sporting event will see 16 teams and they have been divided into four groups as per the draw conducted on September 8. Pool A has world number one Australia, who got the bronze medal at the last World Cup in 2018, Argentina, France, and South Africa; Pool B comprises Belgium, Germany, Korea, and Japan while Pool C has Netherlands, New Zealand, Malaysia and Chile.

All teams will play matches in both venues. In total, 44 matches will be played, with the final scheduled at 7 pm on January 29 in Bhubaneswar.