As hockey fever grips Odisha, the host of FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023, at least 300 students of Berhampur ITI in Ganjam district joined hands to create a world record by making two 43-feet hockey sticks using scraps.
The students have made the longest/tallest hockey stick using scraps of vehicles, motor parts, cycle chains and cranks. The students aim at entering the Guinness Book of World Records with the tallest hockey sticks.
It took at least a week for the students of all departments- fitter, welder, painter and electrician- to join hands and give a finishing touch to the unique innovation.
“Since Odisha is hosting the Hockey World Cup for the second time, we decided to come up with something unique. So, under the guidance of our principal, we have built two 43ft hockey sticks. Both of them are completely made using scrap,” said Chinmaya Kumar Dash, a student of the institution.
“We have also made a large hockey ball. It would be installed at the Scrap Art Park inside the premises of the ITI college before the start of the World Cup,” said another student K. Satish Raju.
“The theme of the students is ‘Scrap to Wealth.’ Our idea is to promote skills and create job opportunities for people in Odisha. We also want to spread the word that scraps can also be used properly to make beautiful decorative items. This will not only give the students confidence but also boost the economical growth of the state,” said Professor Ranjan Swain.
Worth mentioning, the 15th edition of the premier Hockey World Cup tournament will begin on January 13 at the joint venues of Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar and Birsa Muna Hockey Stadium in Rourkela.