By D N Singh
The unveiling of the Logo of the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup, by the Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was like taking the cloak back to 2018.
A year in the history of Odisha’s sports, leading us into the repertoire which needs no elaboration that, Odisha houses an enormous pool of hockey talents and undeniably the Sundargarh district remains as an unending promontory for the National game.
But, since Independence there had been little effort by the successive political regimes in Odisha to rescue the hockey pride hidden underneath in that region.
The Chief Minister, at last, gave the clarion call and tried hard to take the game out of its hibernation. And the state of Odisha suddenly got itself pitch-forked to the lime light as the venue to host the men’s hockey World Cup in 2018.
Sportive Surge
Amid contrarian views emanating from the rival camp, the chief minister did not look back.
And it was sportive surge which stunned the entire country and things gained momentum soon to become a reality.
The state under him, since then continued its pursuit doggedly and the dreams were being knitted for the FIH Hockey WC 2023.
Odisha had its beautiful Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar spruced up and battle ready for 2023 and with an outlook over-shooting the narrow contours of complex, the state today prides to have the new world class hockey stadium in Rourkela which has not only a 20,000 seating capacity but, a state of the art infrastructure.
Not to be economical with the truth, Hockey India has its due of thanks for working hand-in-hand with the state officials and FIH.
However, it is always the man who leads matters. And one cannot grudge Naveen Patnaik his share of pride.
