Kalinga Stadium in Orissa needs practice matches and floodlights to host international matches

Hockey India CEO Elena Norman inspecting the facilities

Hockey India CEO Elena Norman led a four member technical team yesterday in reviewing the newly constructed hockey complex at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar. After the visit, Norman said that the all facility needed some more ground work in order to have any hopes of organising international hockey matches, according to reports from Odisha Today.

The complex apart, the team seems to have been satisfied with the logistical arrangements in place as the city is home to a healthy number of good hotels and connectivity between the venue and the airport seems to be good.

The stadium also possesses a good swimming pool along together with a gymnasium that is sufficiently equipped to host international matches.

Amongst the list of things needed for the stadium, as prescribed by Todd Flulds, Hockey India League director, are floodlights, a press box, and locations for cameras and camera towers. The players’ dressing rooms are of international standard, but improvements in the VIP box and the parking area had to be made, he added.

He expressed his satisfaction with the on-ground facilities though.

“Another practices turf ground is required to host Challenger Cup and World Cup tournaments. Inside the stadium there is plenty of space which can be used as pantry, physio and medical rooms”, Todd added.

Dilip Tirkey, former India captain and Member of Parliament, said that the floodlights and other facilities which have been mandated could be done by December and that a process has already been put in place for the improvement of the practice fields.

He said that he expected the stadium to be in a position to host international matches in about 7 months from now.

The HIL was hugely popular in its first season with many fans thronging the stadiums. The second edition of the tournament will be played from January 23 with the final on February 23 2014.