Odisha, Punjab and Tamil Nadu are the frontrunners to host the 2030 FIH Hockey World Cups for both men and women, Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh told PTI, Sportstar reported. The remarks confirm that India wants to host the next edition of both tournaments.
"Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Punjab are all in the race. If Odisha gets the Hockey World Cup, it will be a big achievement for the state. Odisha will be the first preference," he said.
The three contenders
- **Odisha** has hosted the men's World Cup twice.
- **Tamil Nadu** hosted the men's Junior World Cup last year, in Chennai and Madurai.
- **Punjab**, long seen as the cradle of Indian hockey, has never hosted a World Cup. It is now hosting the men's Asian Champions Trophy, its first international hockey event since the Gold Cup in 2009.
Taking hockey to new places
Bhola Nath Singh said his priority has been to take international hockey to every part of the country and build world-class infrastructure. The women's Asian Champions Trophy will be held in Bhopal from November 19 to 28, the first international tournament in Madhya Pradesh.
Why it matters
He said Punjab was given the Asian Champions Trophy because so many national players come from the State. "They used to say that they had played in countries across the world, but their parents had never seen them play an international match," he said. Spreading big events beyond Odisha would give more fans, and more young players, a chance to see top hockey at home.