Elaborate security arrangements were made at Biju Patnaik International Airport here, where officials arrived with the cup around 11.30am.
Jubilant scenes filled the air, as women and children wearing traditional saris danced to the beat of drums.
The trophy is back!! The coveted #HWC2023 trophy arrived at Bhubaneswar airport and was warmly welcomed by S… https://t.co/GXsktOaWHo
— Odisha Sports (@sports_odisha) 1671959553000
Crowds waiting in the streets near the airport cheered as the trophy was carried outside by the chairman of Hockey India Dilip Tirkey and handed over to the state’s Sports Minister, Tusharkanti Behera.
Earlier, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik took to Twitter to encourage the people of the state to welcome the trophy in a grand way.
“It is indeed a proud moment for Odisha, as we welcome the Men’s hockey world cup for the consecutive time. Let us all take part in the statewide trophy tour which is planned in all districts of Odisha to celebrate the return of hockey to the home,” he wrote.
It is indeed a proud moment for #Odisha as we host the Men’s Hockey World Cup for the first time in a row. Let’s all join… https://t.co/GX6HVRFh3H
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) 1671939159000
Odisha is hosting the prestigious sports tournament for the second consecutive time after 2018. The matches will be played at Kalinga Hockey Stadium here and the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium in Rourkela from January 13 to 29.
“Nowhere in the world is there a hockey stadium with a capacity of 20,000 seats. Only Rourkela has built such a massive stadium for the World Cup,” Tirkey told PTI.
“This (hosting the World Cup) is a proud moment for all of us,” he added.
