Bhubaneswar: Hockey buffs and early morning travellers at Biju Patnaik International Airport could not keep calm this morning as the Olympic Champions Argentina Hockey team landed in the City of Temples, Bhubaneswar, for the much-anticipated Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2018, scheduled from November 28 to December 16.
Argentina’s drag flick sensation Gonzalo Peillat expressed his team’s excitement. “It will be a great tournament, playing in Bhubaneswar again in front of a crazy crowd, the entire team is looking forward to it,” he said.
Argentina had won the Silver Medal at Odisha Men’s Hockey World League Final 2018.
Team Argentina has been grouped in Pool A with Spain, New Zealand and France. They will begin their campaign on November 29. The World Number 2 team has a new coach, Mariano Orozco, who replaced Chief coach Carlos Reteui earlier this year.
The South African team will also arrive tonight.
With tickets being sold out for the Hockey Men’s World Cup, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has directed all legislators to arrange large LCD screens in all assembly constituencies for people in rural areas.
Now the ones living in remote areas will also be able to watch the live matches of the World Cup. According to the Chief Minister’s order, each constituency will get three LCDs installed for the hockey matches.
The opening ceremony is set to kick off on November 27 at Kalinga Stadium, while World Cup Celebration event will be held at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack the following day.
Bollywood Superstar Shah Rukh Khan and music director A R Rahman will perform at the opening ceremony in Bhubaneswar.
