The world’s largest hockey stadium, the freshly constructed Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium, was opened by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday in Rourkela, the state’s steel capital and part of the Sundargarh district. The stadium, named after tribal freedom hero Birsa Munda, was built at a cost of Rs. 261 crore in a record-breaking 15 months.
Beginning on January 13, matches in the 15th FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup will take place both here and at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
Each hockey player will receive Rs 1 crore if the Indian team wins the World Cup, the chief minister stated. This, according to him, will be Odisha’s greatest gift to the nation. For eleven years, the state has sponsored Indian hockey.
He claimed that the stadium’s opening had added a triumphant new chapter to the annals of sports in the world. The chief minister opened a brand-new stadium with cutting-edge amenities and extended an open invitation to everyone to watch the games.
The Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium Complex’s World Cup village was also officially opened by the CM. The 225 rooms in this world cup village, which took nine months to create, have all the amenities appropriate for an event of the size of the Hockey World Cup.
Patnaik spoke with members of team India who were present in the world cup village. He wished them the best of luck and hoped they would win.
The freshly inaugurated stadium, according to him, is the biggest present Odisha can give the country and will aid India in becoming a major hockey power.
He claimed that Sundargarh, which is home to the largest stadium in the world, would keep giving important national teams chances to improve their performances. He continued, “It will express the enthusiasm and love of Indians for hockey.”
On this occasion, the CM also started the first game between India A and B.
Prasanta Patnaik 
amfnews