Rourkela: Sports and Youth Services Minister Tusharkanti Behera on Tuesday welcomed the teams that have arrived in Rourkela to participate in Sub Junior National Championships to be played at Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in the city.
“We are thrilled to welcome the teams to Odisha and are proud to host the 13th Hockey India Sub Junior Women and Men National Championships at Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium. This reflects our commitment to providing our young athletes with world-class infrastructure and empowering them to reach their full potential,” he said.
President, Hockey India, Dilip Trikey said, “As we gather in Rourkela for the 13th Hockey India Sub Junior Women and Men National Championships, I am reminded of the city’s rich history in promoting the sport of hockey. We saw during the World Cup and the Pro League how Rourkela has emerged as a great venue for hockey, and I am confident that this tournament will be no different. This is an excellent opportunity for young athletes to showcase their skills, gain valuable experience and take their first steps towards achieving their dreams.”
The world’s largest seated hockey stadium will host two national events in May. The 13th Hockey India Sub Junior Women National Championship 2023 will be played from May 4 to 14 and the 13th Hockey India Sub Junior Men National Championship 2023 from May 18 to 28.
In order to attract the children towards hockey, school children will be provided free entry to the stadium to watch the matches and cheer the teams.
It may be noted that the stadium along with Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar had hosted the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 and FIH Hockey Men’s Pro League 2022-2023.