Chennai, 28th July, 2023: The Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai has undergone a significant upgrade, including the installation of the Poligras Paris GT zero hockey turf, ahead of the start of the highly-anticipated Hero Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023. The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Shri M. K. Stalin, inaugurated the brand new turf today in a grand ceremony in the esteemed presence of the Hon’ble Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department of Tamil Nadu, Shri Udhayanidhi Stalin.
~Hero Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023 will take place from 3rd August -12th August 2023~
The Hero Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023 will also serve as a preparatory event for the all-important Hangzhou Asian Games. India, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan, and China will compete for the coveted Hero Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023 from 3rd August to 12th August.
The intricately designed Hockey Zero turf is made with 80 percent sugarcane and manufactured with green energy. The turf requires less water and hence has been designed to make it friendly for the environment by preventing. The turf was also successfully used during the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar-Rourkela which was held earlier this year in January. The same turf will also be used for the 2024 Paris Olympics and the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026.
Speaking on the occasion Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Shri M.K.Stalin said, “With the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023 set to begin shortly, I extend a very warm welcome to all the participating teams to our beautiful city. I am very delighted today to inaugurate a first-of-its-kind environment friendly hockey turf. The Department of Youth Welfare and Sports Development of Tamil Nadu’s decision to opt for the carbon zero turf showcases our government’s dedication towards the preservation of the environment, while also providing the best facilities for our athletes. I congratulate all the officials who have tirelessly worked towards hosting a successful tournament and wish all the teams the very best.”
“It is a great honour that Chennai is hosting the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023 and the cherry on the cake is the fact that we are doing so on a carbon zero turf. This is a testament to the state’s commitment towards sports and sports infrastructure. With this initiative, we want to continue supporting and developing the youth of this state, “the Hon’ble Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development of Tamil Nadu Shri Udhayanidhi Stalin weighed in.
Speaking at the inauguration of the pitch, Hockey India President Padma Shri Dr. Dilip Tirkey said, “We are delighted to host the prestigious Hero Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023 on carbon-free hockey turf. Apart from being environmentally-friendly, the turf will also provide a chance for the top nations in Asia to compete for the trophy on the best infrastructure available. We are confident that players from all the participating nations will enjoy playing on the newly laid turf and will be delighted to be a part of the movement towards preservation of the environment.”
Hockey India Treasurer Shri Sekar J Manoharan said: “We at Hockey India have always been invested towards preserving the environment. We are delighted that the magnificent Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai is hosting the prestigious tournament on the newly-laid carbon-free turf. We express our gratitude to the Tamil Nadu government for supporting the cause and also congratulate them on the new turf. We are confident all the participating nations will be delighted with the turf and enjoy playing on the new pitch.”
The event was also graced by Dr. Atulya Mishra, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department, Thiru J. Meghanatha Reddy, IAS, Member Secretary, Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu and Hockey India Executive Director Cdr R.K. Srivastava.
Notably, the West Stand at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium has been named Kalaignar Pavillion after the Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi. He was popularly referred to as Kalaignar and Mutthamizh Arignar for his contributions to Tamil literature.
HOCKEY INDIA TEAM PARTNERS
Odisha (India’s Best Kept Secret) – Major Team Partner
Sports Authority of India (SAI)
Shiv Naresh
About HOCKEY INDIA
HOCKEY INDIA (HI) is the governing body with exclusive mandate to direct and conduct all activities for both men and women’s hockey in India. It is recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Govt. of India as the sole body responsible towards promoting Hockey in India.
Headquartered in New Delhi, Hockey India was established on 20th May, 2009 and is affiliated to the International Hockey Federation (FIH), the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and Asian Hockey Federation (AHF).
Committed to the development of Hockey in the country, Hockey India with the assistance of Sports Authority of India and Department of Sports, Government of India, trains players at sub-junior, junior and senior level. The governing body engages in Coaching the coaches with International Standard certification programs, educates and equips technical officials and umpires to find a foothold in international arena, provides world-class infrastructure and International exposure for the players besides regular international competition. Hockey India has also pioneered in bringing top International hockey events to India such as the FIH Men’s World Cup in 2010 and 2018, FIH Champions Trophy in 2014, FIH Junior Men’s World Cup in 2016 and 2021, FIH Hockey World League Final in 2017. With its vision to popularize the game and constantly promote it, Hockey India brought the Indian Men’s Hockey Team into the top three in the world. Hockey India is also dedicated to getting the Indian Women’s Hockey Team into the top three in the world.
About ODISHA
Odisha – the Eastern State of India – is known for its love for Hockey and over the years it has evolved to be the Global Hub of Hockey. The State successfully hosted the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018, followed by the FIH Men’s Series Finals Bhubaneswar Odisha, FIH Olympic Qualifiers Odisha, and FIH Hockey Pro League 2020-21. Odisha has previously hosted the Champions Trophy 2014 and the Odisha Men’s Hockey World League Final Bhubaneswar 2017. Odisha also hosted the FIH Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup in 2021.
Kalinga Lancers, the team owned by the State, were the winners in the Hockey India League 2017. Taking a step further towards realising the dream of restoring the glory of Indian Hockey at the global level, the State is sponsoring the Indian Hockey Teams till 2033.
Odisha also hosted the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023.
