Notify hockey as national game, CM Naveen Patnaik writes to PM Narendra Modi

BHUBANESWAR:Nearly four months after announcing first-of-its-kind initiative to sponsor Indian hockey teams (both men and women), Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to notify hockey as national game.

In a letter to the Prime Minister on Wednesday, Naveen expressed surprise to know that hockey, which has been popularly known as national game of India, has never been notified officially. “The next World Cup Hockey will be held in Odisha in November. While reviewing the preparations, I was surprised and shocked to know that what is popularly known as the National Game - Hockey, has in fact never been notified as our national game,” he stated.

Cutting across different strata of society and regions, Naveen said hockey is hugely popular. It is a way of life in tribal areas of Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, he said. “I am sure you will agree with millions of hockey fans that hockey truly deserves to be notified as national game. Once notified, it will be a fitting tribute to the great hockey players who have made the country proud and also inspire future generations,” Naveen wrote to Modi.

Preparations are on in full swing at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar as Odisha is all set to host the Hockey World Cup from November 28 to December 16. As many as 16 teams are participating in the biggest hockey carnival.Setting an example for other States, Odisha Government had announced its association with Hockey India on February 15 and replaced Sahara as official sponsor of the national team for the next five years.