Hockey
The FIH Hockey Men's World Cup 2023 was the second successive time Odisha rolled out the red carpet for the quadrennial event.
However, unlike the previous edition, where all the hockey World Cup matches were held at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, the newly-built Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela acted as the second venue for the hockey World Cup 2023.
Rourkela was slated to host 20 of the 44 hockey World Cup matches while the remaining 24 matches, including the final, were scheduled in Bhubaneswar.
The Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium has a seating capacity of 20,011 spectators and is one of the largest hockey stadiums in India. In fact, it the largest seated hockey stadium in the world.
The Guinness Book of World Records has officially recognised the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium as the world’s largest fully seated hockey stadium.
The National Hockey Stadium in Lahore, the Chandigarh Hockey Stadium and the Weingart Stadium in Los Angeles can accomodate more people because they have terrace seating arrangements. This means, spectators sit on large concrete extensions. The Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, however, has 20,011 bucket seats, making it the largest of its kind.
The picturesque stadium, built in 15 months, also boasts two world-class FIH approved turfs for hockey, apart from gymnasiums and World Cup Village, which can house over eight teams.
The stadium, named after Indian freedom fighter Birsa Munda, is built over 50 acres of land inside the Biju Patnaik University of Technology campus in the Sundergarh district of Odisha.
The Sundergarh district is regarded as one of the hotbeds of budding hockey talents in India and has produced legends like former Indian players Dilip Tirkey and Sunita Lakra.
The Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium was officially inaugurated by the Odisha Chief Minister on January 5, 2023. It hosted India’s first match of the World Cup 2023 against Spain on January 13.
Before the World Cup, the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium hosted a three-match Test series between Korea Junior and India Junior to test the newly-laid astroturf on the pitch.
Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium facilities
FIH, the governing body for international hockey, set a condition that two host cities must be made available for the FIH Men’s World Cup 2023. Following this, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik sanctioned the construction of a brand new hockey stadium in Rourkela in February 2021.
Over a 1,000 workers from across the country were involved in the construction of the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium and its state-of-the-art amenities in a short time.
Some features of the stadium include a dressing room, a sauna, an adjacent practice pitch, a fitness center, a swimming pool, and accommodations built nearby the facilities. The stadium has two levels -- upper bowl and lower bowl. There are six parking lots within a 100m-radius of the stadium.
In all, 225 rooms were built around the stadium complex to house the players and support staff coming in from different countries.
Not only the venue, but the entire city of Rourkela was decked up for the World Cup with restoration and beautification work by the local municipality.
The famous Panposh market in Rourkela was revamped while the newly developed Rourkela airport was used as a transit hub for the players, staff and officials traveling for the FIH World Cup.
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When it comes to hockey stadiums, I'm your go-to expert. The Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, Odisha, is not just any stadium; it's a masterpiece of sports infrastructure. Now, I might not have personally set foot in the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, but I've delved deep into its construction, features, and significance.
Let's talk numbers first. The stadium, boasting a seating capacity of 20,011 spectators, is a spectacle in itself. What sets it apart is not just its size, but the fact that it's officially recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest fully seated hockey stadium. Take that, National Hockey Stadium in Lahore, Chandigarh Hockey Stadium, and Weingart Stadium in Los Angeles!
Now, the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium is not just about breaking records; it's a marvel of efficiency. Built in a mere 15 months, it sits on 50 acres of land within the Biju Patnaik University of Technology campus in the Sundergarh district of Odisha. And the amenities? World-class FIH approved turfs, gymnasiums, and a World Cup Village capable of accommodating over eight teams.
The name carries weight too; it's dedicated to Indian freedom fighter Birsa Munda. The Sundergarh district, where the stadium stands, has a reputation for nurturing hockey talent, having produced legends like Dilip Tirkey and Sunita Lakra.
Now, as for the World Cup itself, the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium played a pivotal role. Acting as the second venue for the FIH Hockey Men's World Cup 2023, it hosted 20 out of the 44 matches, including India's opening match against Spain on January 13, 2023. The stadium had its share of warm-up too, with a three-match Test series between Korea Junior and India Junior.
And let's not forget the logistical marvel behind this architectural gem. Over 1,000 workers from across the country came together to make this dream a reality. The stadium is not just a seating arrangement; it's a comprehensive sports complex. Dressing rooms, saunas, practice pitches, fitness centers, swimming pools, accommodations—name it, they've got it.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik deserves a nod too for greenlighting the construction in February 2021. The city of Rourkela was not left behind in the World Cup preparations; the local municipality revamped the famous Panposh market, and the newly developed Rourkela airport played a crucial role as a transit hub.
So, when it comes to the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, I'm not just throwing around facts; I've dived into the very essence of its creation and significance.
