Bhubaneswar: The mix of sports and politics has always proved to be detrimental for the nation. Even as the whole world is going gaga over the grand Hockey World Cup celebrations with the one at Kalinga Stadium here being broadcast to 194 countries, controversy in its own backyard prompted Hockey India to issue a clarification on Thursday.
Taking to Twitter, Hockey India said that the state government did not fund the grand opening ceremonies of the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup at Kalinga Stadium on November 27 and Barabati Stadium the following day.
The events were financially supported by the sponsors of Hockey India, it added.
BJP spokesperson Lekhashree Samantsinghar had also tweeted the images on her official Twitter account and criticised the Chief Minister for wasting public money.
Following the clarification from Hockey India, she again tweeted asking how much of it was sponsored by the Odisha government.