Bhubaneswar: In a distasteful experience for the hockey lovers ahead of Men’s Hockey World Cup 2018 scheduled to be held here, they failed to collect tickets for its opening day ceremony from the Kalinga Stadium counter this morning and resorted to violence.
As per the information, hundreds of hockey fans from the city including women and senior citizens spent sleepless night yesterday at the ticket counter located at Gate No-9 of the stadium to purchase tickets. However, the stadium authorities put up ‘No Tickets Available’ notice at the counter this morning which irked them.
A number of angry ticket aspirants were seen vandalizing the counter protesting the discrepancy and also damaging the standies and hoardings placed there. Later, police resorted to lathi charge to control the crowd.
“While such a big tournament is being held in Bhubaneswar, we the residents of the city are deprived of getting a ticket. Then who is going to watch the matches,” asked an angry hockey fan.
Notably, the inaugural ceremony of the event is scheduled to be attended by Bollywood Superstar Shah Rukh Khan and noted Music Director AR Rahman. It will be held on November 27.
Prasanta Patnaik