Rourkela(Basanta Kumar Jena): The 13th Hockey India Sub Junior National Championship was inaugurated with great enthusiasm at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela. The stadium, which is the largest seated hockey stadium in the world, is all set to host two national events in the month of May; the 13th Hockey India Sub Junior Women National Championship 2023 and the 13th Hockey India Sub Junior Men National Championship 2023. The opening ceremony marked the commencement of the first day of the championship, with a welcome address by Jt. Secretary Sports & Youth Services Department, Odisha, Shri Sailendra Kumar Jena, followed by, Director In-Charge of Rourkela Steel Plant, Shri Atanu Bhowmick and Superintendent of Police, Rourkela, IPS Shri Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo
The opening ceremony was also graced by other esteemed guests, including Additional District Magistrate, Rourkela Municipal Corporation, Dr. Subhankar Mohapatra IAS and Honorary Secretary, Hockey Association of Odisha, Shri Sanatan Sahu.
The dignitaries present at the event expressed their enthusiasm and support for the tournament, and the development of hockey in Odisha. They acknowledged the efforts of the Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik, in setting up a world-class facility, with special attention given to the players’ and officials’ hospitality and infrastructure.
Jt. Secretary to the Government, Sports & Youth Services Department, Shri Sailendra Kumar Jena, said, “It gives me immense pleasure to witness the inauguration of the 13th Hockey India Sub Junior National Championship at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela. The state of Odisha has a rich tradition in hockey, and we are committed to promoting the sport and nurturing young talent. This would have not been possible without the leadership of our honourable Chief Minister, Shri Naveen Patnaik. I wish all the participating teams the very best.”
Superintendent of Police, Rourkela, Shri Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo IPS, also spoke on the significance of the landmark event at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium. He said, “I am delighted to be a part of this prestigious nationals , which is being held in Rourkela. The people of Odisha have always been passionate about hockey, and it is heartening to see the young players from this region and across the country compete at such a high level and have access to state-of-the-art facilities at their doorstep. I am confident that the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela will provide the perfect platform for them to shine. On behalf of the people of Rourkela, I extend my warmest welcome to all the players, officials, and guests, and I wish them all the very best for the championship.”
