All the players, coach and support staff of Team India met the CM over the the lunch and spoke about their experiences playing at Kalinga Stadium in the State capital.

“The Chief Minister had hosted a lunch for the entire Indian hockey team at Kalinga Stadium. All the players felt really happy meeting the CM,” Odisha’s Sports Secretary Vishal Kumar Dev told reporters here.

The CM also felicitated the Indian players for putting a brilliant effort in this edition of the World Cup, he added.

Among others, International Hockey Federation (FIH) President Narinder Batra, former India hockey skipper Dilip Tirkey, were present at the meeting.

It may be recalled here that Team India lost 1-2 to the Netherlands in the quarterfinals to exit the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup.