Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik asks Narendra Modi to name Hockey as official national sport

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik asks Narendra Modi to name Hockey as official national sport

no photo

Chief Minister of the state of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik has penned a letter to PM Narendra Modi in an attempt to convince the leader of the nation to officially recognise hockey as the national sport of the country. Odisha will play host to the FIH Hockey World Cup later this year in November.

The Indian hockey team departed for the upcoming FIH Champions Trophy to be played in Netherlands and will take on Pakistan in the opening encounter of the tournament under the leadership of PR Sreejesh with the likes of Manpreet Singh and Sardar Singh in the squad.

But in a bid to earn more recognition for the sport that has always been the unofficial national sport of India since its independence, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to name hockey as the official national sport of the country.

"As you know Sir, the next World Cup Hockey will be held Odisha in November this year. 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.

"Hence I am sure you will agree with the crores loving fans of our country - that Hockey truly deserves to be notified as our National Game. This will be a fitting tribute to the great Hockey players who have made our country proud," Patnaik said.

Odisha are scheduled to play host to the FIH 2018 World Cup which is set to be held in the state in November this year.

Get updates! Follow us on

Open all