GUWAHATI: The trophy of the most prestigious hockey tournament in the world will be brought to the city of Guwahati on December 8 to encourage the children and youth of the state to take part in this sport.
Hockey is one of the oldest organised games in the country and the country has several international wins in its name in the pre-independence and early post-independence days. In order to revive this sport in the country in the modern day, the trophy of the most popular tournament of this sport will be displayed in several parts of the country. Assam and Manipur from the Northeastern part of the county will also be able to see this trophy.
The International Hockey Federation organises the Men's FIH Hockey World Cup every four years. The state of Odisha in India is hosting the international for the second time in a row in the year 2023. The matches will take palace between 13 and 19 January in different stadiums in the state.Odisha is also one of the main sponsors for the National Hockey Team of India.
The trophy is currently in transit and will reach the Guwahati Airport on December 8. According to a statement, Gitartha Goswami, Member Secretary of SLAC and General Secretary of Assam Hockey will be there to accept the trophy. The five-time olympian Tapan Das is also the Treasurer of Hockey India.
The statement also mentioned that the contingent of Bihu dancers will be performing at the venue to welcome the trophy. It will thereafter be taken to the Hockey Stadium in Guwahati with an escort of a bike rally. The trophy will be on display in the stadium where several dignitaries and ministers including the chief minister and health and family welfare minister of the state are also scheduled to visit. The health minister of Assam, Keshab Mahanta is also the President of Assam Hockey.
The statement added that several sportspersons from the state including national-level hockey players will also be present for the event. The association has invited enthusiasts from all across the state to join the rare opportunity as it will take twenty more years before the trophy visits the country again. They have also informed that Assam is working towards revamping the facilities in the state and aims to host international matches in the near future.
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