Odisha, under the leadership of its chief minister Naveen Patnaik, is currently the hub of Indian hockey. Looking around Sundargarh district during the Men’s World Cup’s opening ceremonies in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela demonstrates the depths of fervour that the sport inspires. Rourkela is dressed to the nines for a sporting carnival. Bright murals depicting hockey, yoga poses, Odissi dancers.
Then there is Olly the green turtle, the official mascot of the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023, and Naveen Patnaik, a five-time Chief Minister, both of whom are grinning down from countless hoardings. The world’s top hockey competition’s back-to-back editions are being held in Odisha for the first time.
This time, in addition to Bhubaneswar, it is bringing the best of the world to the “garh” (den) of hockey—the mineral-rich district of Sundargarh—where 60 players, both men and women, have competed for the national teams, with former captain and current president of Hockey India Dilip Tirkey being the most well-known.
It is well known that Odisha and Punjab currently share the honour of being called “the nursery of Indian hockey.” Its staging of the second World Cup in five years and the fervent participation of everyone on the ground demonstrate the extent of the game’s appeal in this country.
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