The Odisha government claimed that it is the world's largest facility in terms of seating capacity and certified by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
Pakistani Olympian Akhtar Rasool is heartbroken to see the current sorry state of hockey in India and Pakistan. And, the head coach and manager of the Pakistan hockey team, who was witness to the golden era of hockey in both countries, believes that regular bilateral series will help both nations come out of the rot they are lying in.
India aim to avoid complacency against Pakistan
India will host Pakistan in a four-Test series after the Olympics.
Besides two goalkeepers, the Asian Games-bound team will have six defenders, five midfielders and as many forwards.
Fourteen Pakistan hockey players, including star penalty corner specialist Sohail Abbas, have signed up for the inaugural Hockey India League to be held from January 5 to February 3 next year.
With a bilateral test series planned for March-April, the Pakistan Hockey Federation wants to enter into an agreement with Hockey India under which the party found to be defaulting will be liable to pay the other federation a compensation of $200,000 dollars.
The Olympic champions decided against touring Pakistan because of security concerns.
'It is all about money (that BCCI wants to play Pakistan) but in times like these you have to rise above monetary gains'
Pakistan's retired hockey international Rehan Butt, who was appointed coach of the national team taking part in the 12th South Asian Games, turned out as a player in the team's first two matches, including Monday's victory over hosts India.
The India men's hockey team started their campaign at the 19th Asian Games with a massive 16-0 win over Uzbekistan.
China stunned Pakistan 2-0 in the shoot-out to enter the final of Hero Asian Champions Trophy for the first time in the history of the tournament.
The series was to be played in Malaysia.
The PHF is considering inviting the team for a nine-nation tournament in December.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), in its first major overhaul after the 2012 London Olympics disaster, has dissolved the selection committee and named former chief selector Hanif Khan as the national coach, replacing Khwaja Junaid.
Former Indian hockey team captain Dhanraj Pillay feels that resuming of India-Pakistan hockey test series should help both countries in regaining their foothold at the international level.
The Indian men's hockey team on Saturday dominated their neighbouring rivals Pakistan at the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, getting a stunning 10-2 victory to continue their winning run in the tournament.
The arrival of India's neighbouring nations Pakistan and China in Chennai on Tuesday night energised the city's atmosphere ahead of the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023.
Harmanpreet, Sreejesh shortlisted for FIH Hockey Stars Awards
Defending champions South Korea hold Pakistan to 1-1 draw
Images from India's match against Pakistan in the ongoing Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai on Wednesday.
Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey, on Wednesday, said that the national men's team will travel to Pakistan for qualifiers in case it fails to directly qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Hockey Olympian Aslam Sher Khan is of the opinion that Indian hockey is run on the whims of FIH and there was no need to have a foreign coach on board.
While India downed China, Ashari struck twice in Malaysia's 3-1 win over Pakistan.
The much-anticipated India vs Pakistan clash is set for Wednesday. This round-robin match of the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy will mark India's final game in the tournament.
In a startling revelation, Pakistan hockey team's sacked manager Asif Bajwa has claimed that the team deliberately lost its World Cup qualifying league match against Poland to avoid hosts France in the final last year.
India frittered away the advantage of a two-goal lead and were held 2-2 by Pakistan in men's hockey at the Commonwealth Games, in Gold Coast on Saturday.
Charanjit Singh, who captained the Indian team which won gold in the Olympics of 1964, died on Thursday
Muhammad Qasim had two surgeries to remove a clotting in the chest after being hit by a ball.
From Prime Minister Narendra Modi to eminent sports personalities, the country was wholesome in its praise for the Indian hockey team after it clinched the Asian Champion Trophy by beating arch-rivals Pakistan in the finals at Kuantan, Malaysia on Sunday. Favourites India prevailed 3-2 over Pakistan to reclaim the trophy and present a perfect Diwali gift to the nation. PM Modi wrote on his twitter handle, "Very proud of our hockey team. Congratulations on winning the Asian Champions Trophy."
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is planning to have India and Pakistan play their home and away matches in Europe if the arch-rivals face off in the Olympic qualifying tournament for a berth at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Keen to revive bilateral ties with India, the Pakistan Hockey Federation is planning to host the country for a Test series and has got the government's clearance for it even though the dates are yet to be finalised.
India named an 18-member hockey team with goalkeeper Bharat Chetri as captain to take part in the 21st Sultan Azlan Shah Cup tournament to be held at Ipoh, Malaysia from May 24 to June 3.
An inspired Pakistan put their disappointing showing in the pool matches behind to stun World Cup and Olympics silver medallists the Netherlands 4-2 and reach the semi-finals of the Hero Champions Trophy hockey tournament, in Bhubaneswar, on Thursday.
Singh was part of the gold-medal winning Indian team at the 1975 men's Hockey World Cup in Kuala Lumpur.
'There were many experts around me,' A Ganesh Nadar discovers at the India-Pakistan hockey game. 'One of them was explaining to his neighbour, that fellow is a good dragger and flicker, that fellow is a penalty corner specialist, that fellow is a penalty specialist, that fellow is a very good defender, etc, freely dispensing with his expert knowledge.'
The Indian junior men's team beat Pakistan in a thriller in the final of the Men's Junior Asia Cup 2023.
The Indian men's hockey team on Thursday continued their winning run at the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, defeating the 2018 Asian Games Gold medallist Japan 4-2 in their third Pool A match.
Pakistan's hockey team leaves on Monday for the World Cup in New Delhi amid warnings from a security expert that there is a genuine threat to the players' safety in India.
Rehan Butt, Pakistan's assistant coach believes that India and Pakistan should play more matches.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances