The Asian federation honoured the Indian body with the Best Organiser Award for successfully pulling off the event. HI secretary-general Bhola Nath Singh received the award during the AHF Congress held in Mungyeong, Korea.
The 2018 World Cup saw Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar hosting the tournament but this time the newly-constructed Birsa Munda Stadium in Rourkela grabbed the limelight for its huge seating capacity.
The Asian Hockey Federation awarded Hockey India with the Best Organising Nation Award for conducting the memorable… https://t.co/NWOQ5sZ2ug
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) 1679570442000
The Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium also features an Olympic-style hockey village, which housed the participating teams, giving them the experience of a Games Village at multi-discipline sporting events such as the Olympics, Commonwealth and Asian Games.
The tournament mascot, Olly, also created awareness about the endangered Olive Ridley Turtles.
“We are humbled and grateful for this incredible recognition by the Asian Hockey Federation. A World Cup at home is always special and for Hockey India, our top priority was to ensure everyone who took part in it, be it the participating teams, officials or spectators have the most memorable experience,” HI president Dilip Tirkey said in a statement.
“Our endeavour wouldn’t have been possible without the continued support and vision of the Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik, all the stakeholders and the numerous people who worked together to make this event a mega success,” he added.
(With PTI Inputs)