Chennai, 31st July 2023: The Tamil Nadu leg of the ‘Pass the Ball’ Trophy Tour, a crucial part of the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023 build-up campaign, is coming to a successful conclusion today. Hockey enthusiasts in Tamil Nadu have shown tremendous support, making it a resounding success.
~ Fan Parks offer a cohesive platform where devoted fans can come together and cheer for their cherished teams as a united force ~
Adding to the excitement for Hockey fans in Tamil Nadu, the state’s Hon’ble Minister of Youth Welfare and Sports Development, Thiru Udhayanidhi Stalin, has announced the establishment of fan parks in every district. These dedicated fan parks will provide the people of the state with an excellent platform to showcase their unwavering passion and love for Hockey, further amplifying the already overwhelming response.
The Hero Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023, set to be held from 3rd August to 12th August at the iconic Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Egmore, Chennai, promises to be an unforgettable extravaganza, as teams from across the continent converge to compete for glory, pride, and the coveted championship title.
Interestingly, the addition of lively fan parks will offer the fans to attend the live screenings of the tournament’s matches on big screens thus providing a unifying platform for fans to cheer on their beloved teams together.
The Additional Chief Secretary to Tamil Nadu Government, Thiru Atulya Misra, praised the initiative and stated, “I applaud Thiru Udhayanidhi Stalin, Hon’ble Minister of Youth Welfare and Sports Development, for his visionary decision to establish Live Fan Zones across all districts of Tamil Nadu during the Asian Champions Trophy. The government, under his exceptional leadership, aims to create a thrilling atmosphere for hockey fans and promote the sport throughout the state.”
He also explained the concept of Fan Parks and said, “In collaboration with the SDAT (Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu) and Hockey India, LED screens with captivating branding will be set up in each district’s Fan Zone, where the matches will be telecasted live for the enthusiastic audience. Also, the District Collectors have been entrusted with identifying suitable locations, such as parks, bus stands, malls, and other prominent areas that attract a large public gathering, in their respective district headquarters or other significant towns for the creation of these Live Fan Zones.”
“The tournament schedule includes three matches daily at 4:00 PM, 6:15 PM, and 8:30 PM during the group stage, with the last match of the day being India’s thrilling encounter. With such a well-thought-out initiative, we are confident that the establishment of Live Fan Zones will not only bring joy to hockey enthusiasts but also leave an indelible mark on Tamil Nadu’s sports landscape, nurturing a generation of dedicated athletes and passionate sports enthusiasts,” he added.
Praising the decision of having fan parks in all the districts of Tamil Nadu, Hockey India President Padma Shri Dr. Dilip Kumar Tirkey said, “We are immensely pleased with the visionary decision of Thiru Udhayanidhi Stalin, Hon’ble Minister of Youth Welfare and Sports Development, Tamil Nadu, to establish fan parks in every district of the state for the Asian Champions Trophy. This remarkable initiative will undoubtedly fuel the passion for hockey across the region, bringing communities together and fostering a new era of sporting excellence.”
Hockey India Secretary General Shri Bhola Nath Singh also echoed the same sentiments and said, “We extend our sincere appreciation to Tamil Nadu State Government for their commendable step in establishing fan parks in every district of the state for the tournament. This thoughtful decision will not only ignite a new wave of enthusiasm for hockey but also promote the sport at the grassroots level and foster a vibrant sporting culture in Tamil Nadu.
Also, Shri Sekar J Manoharan, President of the Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu, expressed his views on the initiative and said, “We extend our sincere appreciation to Thiru Udhayanidhi Stalin, Hon’ble Minister of Youth Welfare and Sports Development, Tamil Nadu, for his visionary step in establishing fan parks in every district of the state for the Asian Champions Trophy. We believe this extraordinary step will kindle the passion for hockey amongst our people, paving the way for a promising future for the sport in Tamil Nadu.”
Meanwhile, Prasanna, who hails from Ramanathapuram District and is an aspiring hockey player, said that he is delighted to have a fan park in his district and thanked government officials for installing the same. Also, Kumar, who is the secretary of the Hockey Unit of Dharmapuri, termed the initiative ‘wonderful’ and said that fan parks will allow the people to enjoy the stadium-like atmosphere.
IAS Officer Raja Gopal Sunkara, who is the District Collector in Erode, commented that fan parks will help in creating an electrifying atmosphere in Tamil Nadu not only for the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023 but also for hockey as a sport, thus inspiring more and more youngsters to take up the sport.
So, the stage is set, the teams are primed, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. While only one team will lift the glittering trophy, the true champions will be the fans who passionately support their teams with unwavering loyalty.
Hero Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023 will be live on Star Sports and Fancode. It will also be live streamed on watch.hockey for viewing outside of India.
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.
