Odisha, India is getting ready to host the men’s hockey World Cup in 2023. This year, some of the matches will be held at the newly-inaugurated Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela.
On January 6, 2023, a week ahead of the World Cup, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the new stadium, which is claimed to be the world’s largest.
The stadium was constructed during the pandemic specifically for the hockey World Cup, making it a remarkable achievement. Built on an area of 50 acres, the stadium has a seating capacity of 20,000, making it the biggest hockey stadium globally regarding seating capacity.
The stadium was developed in a record 15 months, and the expense of building it is estimated to be around ₹261 crores. It boasts practice centres, gyms, swimming pools, and more. The World Cup Village, managed by the Taj Group, has 225 rooms, capable of accommodating 400 players and officials.
The newly-constructed stadium is one of the crucial venues for the World Cup. Out of all the 44 matches of the event, 20 matches will take place at this stadium, while the remaining matches will be hosted at Bhubaneswar’s Kalinga Stadium.
The 15th edition of the Men’s Hockey World Cup will take place between January 13 and 29, 2023, an event for which the hockey world eagerly waits.