The Ice Hockey World Cup trophy returns to Odisha after touring the Indian states

After traveling across 13 states and one union territory, the Men’s Hockey World Cup trophy returned to Odisha, which is gearing up to host next month’s sporting event.

Elaborate security arrangements were made at the Biju Patnaik International Airport, where the authorities arrived with the cup at around 11:30 am.

Jubilant scenes filled the air as women dressed in traditional sarees and children danced to the beat of the drum.

Crowds waiting on the streets near the airport cheered as Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey brought out the trophy and handed it over to state sports minister Tusharkanti Behera.

Earlier, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik encouraged the people of the state to accept the award in a grand manner on Twitter.

This is indeed a proud moment for Odisha as we are hosting back-to-back Men’s Hockey World Cups. Let everyone join the state-wide Trophy Tour planned for every district of Odisha to celebrate the homecoming of hockey, he wrote.

It is indeed a proud moment #Odisha we hosted men’s ice hockey world championships back-to-back. Let everyone join the state-wide Trophy Tour planned for every district of Odisha to celebrate the homecoming of hockey.#HockeyComesHome#HWC2023 #Ice Hockey World Cup 2023 pic.twitter.com/UoKpOjqzKP

Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) December 25, 2022

Odisha is hosting the prestigious sports tournament for the second consecutive time after 2018. The matches will be played at Kalinga Hockey Stadium here and Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium in Rourkela from January 13 to 29.

There is no hockey stadium anywhere in the world that can hold 20,000 people. Only Rourkela has built such a massive stadium for the World Cup, Tirkey said PTI.

“It (hosting the World Cup) is a proud moment for all of us,” he added.