Hockey World Cup 2023: Odisha holds auto rallies, cyclothon as hockey craze hits fever pitch

With the arrival of the Indian team in Bhubaneswar ahead of the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup, which is nearly two weeks around, Hockey craze has reached the fever pitch in the Capital City.

To create awareness about hockey and to extend proper hospitality to tourists from abroad and across the country, Bhubaneswar Auto-rickshaw Association on Tuesday organised a rally from Acharya Vihar Square to Kalinga Stadium which happens to the one of the venues for the mega event.

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The rally covered places like Vani Vihar, Master Canteen, Rajmahal square and Jaydev Vihar square. Around 2,000 auto rickshaws in Bhubaneswar took part in the rally.

“We used to arrange awareness programmes every year on December 27 in memory of a dear friend of the association who lost his life in a tragic accident. Hockey World Cup, to be organised this year in Odisha, gave a good chance to direct our awareness activities towards Hockey craze. Along with hockey awareness, we will also send a message to the members of our association to extend warm welcome and great hospitality to the tourists who will come to Odisha from abroad and across the country for the grand event,” said a member of Bhubaneswar Auto-rickshaw Association.

Meanwhile, a cyclothon was organised in Rourkela to spread hockey fever further among the denizens. The cyclothon has started from Udit Nagar mini stadium and will end up there as well after covering the ring road. Students from several schools, colleges and senior citizens are taking part in the program.