FIH Hockey World Cup Trophy Tour to Naval Dockyard

By Raju Vernekar
Mumbai, Dec 21:
 
As a precursor to the prestigious International Hockey Federation (FIH) Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023, a World Cup Trophy toured various parts of Mumbai, including Indian Naval Dockyard on Monday and Tuesday.
Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 is being organised at Bhubaneshwar and Rourkela in Odisha from January 13 to January 29, 2023. A World Cup Trophy tour is being organised from December 05 onwards till January 11, 2023 covering the length and breadth of the country.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the trophy tour of the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 in Bhubaneswar, handing over the trophy to Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey, on December 05.
The trophy will return to Odisha on December 25 after touring 13 states and one union territory and districts. The states include: West Bengal, Manipur, Assam, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, New Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Chhattisgarh.
With a view to publicise the event and increase awareness in the naval community, the Trophy was displayed at various locations inside Naval Dockyard, including on a naval ship and a submarine on Tuesday an official statement read.
Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, senior naval officers, former Indian hockey olympians, and school children were present on the occasion. The FOC-in-C conveyed the best wishes of the naval fraternity to the Indian hockey team as well as the organisers for the World Cup.
The 15th edition of the Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup, the quadrennial world championship for men’s national field hockey teams will be held at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar and at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium in Rourkela. Sixteen teams from 05 confederations are participating. The first matches will be played on January 13, 2023 between Argentina and South Africa (first session) and Australia and France (second session at the Kalinga Stadium.)