FIH Series Finals | Free entry for all morning matches in Bhubaneswar
The organising committee of the upcoming FIH Series Finals in June has extended free entry for the spectators to East, North and South stands of the Kalinga Stadium for all morning games. The eight-team event, which is a part of the Olympic qualifiers, will start on June 6 and conclude on June 15.
With the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar getting ready for another international hockey event to be held next month, the organisers have decided to attract more number of spectators at the venue for non-India matches by giving free entry. All the league matches involving hosts India will be played under lights in the evening while there are morning matches to be played at 8:45 IST as well and for which the Hockey India president has stated that they have extended free entry to the hockey lovers. The morning games will be played on 6, 7, 10, 12 & 14 June.
“In order to encourage spectators to come and watch morning matches, we have decided to make entry free. We are expecting a good turnout for all matches," said Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad, president, Hockey India.
The Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar had hosted the Hockey World Cup last year and the Hockey World League and Champions Trophy in 2017 and 2014 respectively. There were some doubts over the venue getting ready in time ahead of the FIH Series Finals because of the damage caused by tropical cyclone “Fani”. However, the state sports department and Hockey India had made it clear last week that the tournament will go as planned in Odisha’s capital.
"Odisha over the years has hosted some of the best and most reputed International sporting events in the country. With Hockey being passionately followed in the state, the Kalinga Stadium is always thronged with thousands of hockey fans and we are expecting the FIH Men's Series Final Bhubaneswar Odisha 2019 will also receive such support and following, as it is a crucial event in the 2020 Olympic Qualifying pathway,” explained the Hockey India president.
“The Odisha State Government are making commendable efforts despite being affected by Cyclone Fani to make all the necessary arrangements to support Hockey India in hosting a successful event.”
The 10-day event in June, which is crucial for the 2020 Olympic Qualifying Pathway, will witness eight teams that include Asian Games gold medallist Japan, Mexico, USA, Poland, South Africa, Russia, Uzbekistan and hosts India. The tickets have been made available online from today as stated by a press release from the Hockey India. India will face Russia in their opening game on the first day of the tournament in the evening.
According to the Hockey India, “The tickets are very reasonably priced at INR 200 for East Stand, INR 100 for South and North Stand for the Group Stage matches to be played between 06-12 June 2019 while the tickets for Semi Finals and Final on 14 and 15 June 2019 respectively are priced at INR 250 for East Stand and INR 150 for South and North Stand.”