Extends best wishes to India for victory in the upcoming world cup event

Unveils the Hockey World Cup trophy at welcoming ceremony held at his residence office

Raipur, TNINS 

Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday lifted the Hockey World Cup trophy with the slogan of 'Chak De India' and extended best wishes to India for victory in the upcoming world cup event.

Meanwhile, the Hockey World Trophy has reached Chhattisgarh today. Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel unveiled the trophy at the welcoming ceremony held at his residence office. The nationwide trophy tour was launched in Bhubaneswar on December 5 and the prestigious trophy is making rounds across 16 states of the country with Chhattisgarh as the last stop.

It is worth mentioning that the FIH Odisha Hockey Mens World Cup 2023 will be organized in Odisha from 13 to 29 January 2023. This competition will be held in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela.

Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel was the chief guest of the welcoming ceremony which was presided over by Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Shri Umesh Patel. On the occasion, the Chief Minister felicitated the international players of Chhattisgarh who made special contributions in the field of hockey.

Addressing the programme, the Chief Minister said "I wholeheartedly welcome this prestigious trophy on behalf of the people of Chhattisgarh. We are equally happy as the people of Odisha with the organisation of this grand world cup event in our neighbouring state. Besides, there is great enthusiasm and happiness among people across the country."

He added that the government has made consistent efforts to strengthen the sports infrastructure in Chhattisgarh. As many as 21 sports academies have been established in four years. Today world class grounds and facilities are available for hockey players of the state. Chhattisgarh Olympics are also being organized to boost the enthusiasm of people towards sports so that sports talents of the state can get maximum opportunities.

On 23 December 2022, the coveted trophy was handed over to Chhattisgarh Hockey President Shri Firoz Ansari in a grand ceremony held at Field Marshal K M Cariappa Hockey Stadium Bengaluru,  Karnataka. After Raipur, this trophy will return back to Bhubaneswar, the venue of the World Cup.

Sports Minister Shri Umesh Patel, Parliamentary Secretary Shri Vikas Upadhyay, Parliamentary Secretary Smt. Rashmi Singh, Chhattisgarh Housing Board President and MLA Shri Kuldeep Juneja, MLA Shri Satyanarayan Sharma, Raipur Mayor Shri Aijaz Dhebar, Rajnandgaon Mayor Smt. Hema Deshmukh, Chhattisgarh Hockey President Shri Firoz Ansari and international hockey players, office bearers of Chhattisgarh Hockey Associations and young hockey players attended the programme.