The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has announced that the 2015 Men's Hockey World league Final will be hosted between November 27 and December 6, 2015 in Raipur, officials here stated.
The league will be held at the International Hockey Stadium in Raipur. The stadium was dedicated to Hockey in August 2014 in the State. Eight international Hockey teams like Australia, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Great Britain, Argentina, India and Canada will be hosted here. This will be the first International Hockey event to be staged in Chhattisgarh.
“The Hockey World league Final will be an extremely exciting event with all eight teams qualified for 2016 Olympics. This will be one of the last opportunities to test themselves against one another in international competition before they head out for Rio for the Games late next year,” said FIH President leandro Negre.
He said that India has a strong connection with hockey and FIH is delighted to take the showcase competition to the city that has shown a great desire to host International hockey tournaments.
“We have no doubt that the local organisers and the people of Raipur will set a fantastic event for athletes, spectators and TV viewers around the world, Negre said.
Chief Minister Raman Singh said that it is a proud moment for the people of Chhattisgarh. “When we started work on the stadium the aim was to make a world class stadium,” he said
“I welcome hockey fans from across the world to watch the exhilarating hockey set to be held here in the month of November and December”, Singh said.
Dr Narinder Dhruv Batra, President of Hockey India said it is a great news for the hockey fraternity. “This will be a huge motivation not only for Hockey India but also for the officials of Raipur Stadium.”
Meanwhile the Chhattisgarh Government had last month approved Rs8.33 crore for construction of a practice pitch at the International Hockey Stadium in Raipur and provision of acoustic system and air-conditioners at the Indoor Stadium of State Sports Training Centre in Bilaspur , officials stated.
A sum of Rs 1.95 crore have been sanctioned for Indoor Stadium of Tehsil Headquarters Sarangarh, renovation of Mini Stadium in Khairagarh and Mini Stadium construction in Kurud, Bhakhara, and Sahaspur-lohara.
The State Government has allotted funds for these works in first supplementary budget of current financial year 2015-16.