Hockey World Cup 2018 gets off to a star-studded start

Welcoming players from 16 international teams, Patnaik said people of Odisha have been looking forward to hosting the sporting extravaganza.

Courtesy: Twitter/@FIH_Hockey

Bhuwaneswar: Hockey World Cup 2018 was officially declared open by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in a glitzy opening ceremony at the Kalinga Stadium on Tuesday. 

Welcoming players from 16 international teams, Patnaik said people of Odisha have been looking forward to hosting the sports extravaganza. "I welcome all the international hockey teams, the distinguished delegates and the hockey officials to Odisha. You’re the guests of 45 million Odia people," he said.

#WATCH Visuals from the opening ceremony of the #HockeyWorldCup2018 from Bhubaneswar, Odisha pic.twitter.com/teWB7VFl9K — ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2018

The prominent faces on stage - besides the players themselves - were Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit.

While Shah Rukh too welcomed players and officials, Madhuri delivered a scintillating dance performance.

The matches in the tournament will begin from November 29 with the final on December 16. The competing teams will play in four pools with the defending champions Australia going in as firm favourites.

Host India has won the tournament only once - back in 1975.

I welcome all the international hockey teams, the distinguished delegates and the hockey officials to Odisha. You’re the guests of 45 million Odia people: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the opening ceremony of the Hockey World Cup 2018 in Bhubaneswar pic.twitter.com/X3QnMpaLLj — ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2018

The Odisha government had declared a holiday across the state after 1.30 pm on Tuesday, in view of the opening ceremony. All banks, financial institutions, government offices and educational institutions were asked to remain shut.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter and said, "A warm welcome and best wishes to all teams participating in the Hockey Men's World Cup 2018, being held in Odisha. I am sure this tournament will be a treat for sports lovers and will also be an opportunity to discover India's and especially Odisha's culture. @FIH_Hockey"