Rourkela: On the direction of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, a high level team comprising Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra, Secretary to CM (5T) VK Pandian, Sports Secretary R. Vineel Krishna and IDCO MD Bhupendra Singh Poonia today visited Rourkela to take stock of preparations for the FIH Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023.
The senior officials reviewed the expansion of Rourkela airport and visited the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium. They have also made an on the ground review of the various ongoing preparations for the mega sporting event.
The works for the Rourkela airport and Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium have been completed. The practice field and the main field of the stadium are ready for use. The high-mast lighting has been tested, informed the Chief Secretary informed the media after the review.
He said that three practice matches will be played at the main field from December 24 and necessary corrections will be made based on the feedback of the players.
The Men’s Hockey World Cup will be held in Rourkela along with Bhubaneswar from January 13th to 29th, 2023. As the World Cup is being organized for the first time in Rourkela, various programs have been planned by the administration, Rourkela Municipal Corporation and the state government to make it a grand event.