Kalinga Stadium turns hangout zone for locals

BHUBANESWAR: Kalinga Stadium here has turned into a popular hangout zone for people with several visitors spending an evening out in the complex.
The decked-up stadium, the dazzling and picturesque Olly’s Land (fun park), and mouthwatering snacks at the Millet Shakti stall are attracting larger crowds than the hockey World Cup matches with many seats in the stands remaining empty after India’s ouster.
”We had bought tickets hoping that India will play in the quarter-finals. But unfortunately, our team is out of the tournament and we didn’t want to waste the tickets. So, we came to enjoy the festive mood and the nice ambience in the stadium,” said Rinky Padhi, a college student hanging out with friends at Olly’s Land on Tuesday.
After India’s defeat, the interest of local fans has gone down significantly, which was evident from the low turnout during the quarter-final matches here on Tuesday. In the first match, Australia qualified for the semi-finals by defeating Spain 4-3. Many hockey fans from Australia and other countries were seen in the stands cheering for their favourite teams.
“We wish Australia lifts the World Cup for the fourth time. We have come to cheer for our country and are so happy that Australia secured its berth in the semi-finals. Though it would be a tough fight for the trophy, we are keeping our fingers crossed and want our team to return with the cup,” said Garry, an Australian fan enjoying the match in the stadium.
In the second quarter-final, Belgium beat India’s nemesis New Zealand 2-0. Indian fans in the stands were seen cheering for Belgium. “We are happy that Belgium won. They are the defending champions and a stronger team than New Zealand,” said Rahul Patnaik, a young Indian fan.
With only five days left for the World Cup to finish, people in the city do not want to miss the chance of watching an international sporting event, which is onec in a lifetime affair for many.