Odisha: Bhubaneswar to host Hockey Olympic qualifiers next year
With the successful hosting of Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup-2018, Bhubaneswar will once again welcome international hockey as it will host the Hockey Olympic qualifiers next year.
This was announced by International Hockey Federation (FIH) President Narinder Dhruv Batra during the post match presentation ceremony at Kalinga Stadium on Sunday evening.
“We are grateful to the Odisha government, police and people for organising the Men’s Hockey World Cup 2018 so successfully. It was a marvellous tournament over here. We are in debt to everyone. And now I feel privilege to announce that the Hockey Olympic qualifiers will also be held here in 2019,” said Batra while speaking on the award ceremony of the final of the Hockey World Cup.
Besides, Bhubaneswar is scheduled to host one of the three Hockey Series Finals to be held from June 6 to 16 next year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Odisha on December 24.
Earlier in the evening, Olympic silver medallists Belgium clinched their maiden World Cup title after beating three-time champions Netherlands in sudden death after the shootout in the pulsating gold medal match at the Kalinga Stadium.
