With each passing day, excitement and enthusiasm is gradually building up among hockey fans for the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar-Rourkela.
The mega event, which is set to begin on January 13, will witness 16 elite hockey teams from around the world in action.
Eager to get a chance to witness the thrilling action taking place in Rourkela for the first time, fans gathered in large numbers outside the newly constructed Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium since the opening of the Box Office on December 19th (Monday) to buy tickets. And within a week, all match tickets in Rourkela have been sold out.
A total of 20 matches will take place at the new jewel of hockey, the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, which has a sitting capacity of over 20,000.
Meanwhile, the iconic Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar which has a seating capacity of over 15000, will host 24 matches, including cross-overs, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the grand final.
The Indian team, which is placed in Pool D, along with Spain will begin their campaign against Spain in Rourkela on January 13.
Following their match against Spain on the first day of the competition, India will play England in Rourkela on January 15. It will be followed by their final group encounter against Wales in Bhubaneswar on January 19. All of India’s group-stage matches will start at 7 pm.
The 16 teams competing in the tournament are Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands, India, Argentina, Germany, New Zealand, England, France, Korea, Malaysia, Spain, South Africa, Japan, Chile and Wales.