Madhuri Dixit practicing for the opening ceremony of Hockey World Cup 2018. (Source: PTI)Hockey World Cup 2018 Opening Ceremony LIVE Updates: The Hockey World Cup 2018 taking place in Bhubaneswar will be declared open with a grand opening ceremony at the Kalinga Stadium, which will see performances by Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit on Tuesday. Odia actors Sabyasachi Mishra and Archita Sahu will also perform at the ceremony. A R Rahman, who has composed the theme song of the World Cup, will perform both in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, where the second ceremony will take place on Wednesday. The World Cup will take place among 16 countries in Bhubaneswar from November 28 to December 16. The Kalinga Stadium, which has undergone massive transformation, has the flags of the participating countries hoisted for hockey’s biggest extravaganza.
Glimpses from the stadium
The artists, performers and the crowd are ready for the opening ceremony
Ceremony to begin at 6.30
The Opening ceremony, which will declare the Hockey World Cup open, is set to start at 6.30 PM.
In Temple City of Bhubaneswar, a hockey pilgrimage
For most players, a hockey tournament in India is more than just about the sport—it’s almost a spiritual voyage. And a competition in Bhubaneswar, a World Cup no less, feels like homecoming.
- writes Indian Express reporter Mihir Vasavda
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Opening ceremony LIVE
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the awaited opening ceremony of the Hockey World Cup 2018, taking place in Bhubaneswar at the Kalinga Stadium on Tuesday. Among the star performers are Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan, who has been the face of the World Cup and starred in the blockbuster Chak De India movie, Madhuri Dixit as well as music composer AR Rahman, who is behind the theme of the Hockey World Cup song.