Bengaluru, Dec 23 (Agency) Hockey fever engulfed the city as the Trophy Tour of the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar-Rourkela reached the IT capital of India on Friday after a visit to Kerala and Tamil Nadu in South India. President Hockey Karnataka SVS Subramanya Gupta welcomed the Trophy at the Kempegowda International Airport, and the prestigious Trophy was unveiled by Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot at the Raj Bhavan.
Later in the day, the World Cup Trophy was displayed at the Field Marshal KM Cariappa Hockey Stadium in presence of legendary hockey stars Padma Shri MP Ganesh, who captained the Indian Team in the 1973 Hockey World Cup where India clinched the silver medal. He was joined by Khel Ratna awardee and four-time World Cupper Dhanraj Pillay, Dr AB Subbaiah, VR Raghunath, Ravi Nayakar, Sabu Varkey, Ashish Ballal, Arjun Halappa, SK Uthappa, Nikkin Thimmiah, Vickram Kanth and current national player Mohammed Raheel. In addition, the Trophy was displayed at Sri Bhagawan Mahaveer Jain College and Vidyashilp School where students were jubilant as they celebrated the arrival of the coveted Trophy and cheered the Indian Men’s Team on with “Jai Ho” slogans.