Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik unveiled the trophy for the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 on Monday in Bhubaneswar, handing it over to Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey.
Chief Minister Patnaik wished the trophy tour success, saying, “I’m hoping that the Hockey Men’s World Cup Trophy Tour will raise awareness of the World Cup throughout India. We will host 16 teams, with matches taking place in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela.”
He predicted that the World Cup would be memorable for both the teams and the fans.
Odisha sports and youth services minister Tusharkanti Behera, Hockey India secretary general Bholanath Singh, state sports secretary R. Vineel Krishna, Hockey India executive director Srivastava, and officials and hockey players were in attendance.
The trophy will travel through 13 states and one union territory before returning to Odisha on December 25, providing fans and the general public with an opportunity to interact with the prestigious trophy before the winning team lifts it.
The trophy will travel through West Bengal, Manipur, Assam, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, New Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Chattisgarh over the next 21 days.
When the Hockey Men’s World Cup Trophy returns to Odisha, it will tour all of the districts. According to officials, the trophy will also visit 17 blocks in the Sundergarh district, which is known as the “Cradle of Hockey.”
The tour will conclude in Rourkela before returning to Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar for the finals on January 29, 2023, according to the organizers.
Prasanta Patnaik 
amfnews