Let hockey be called the national sport of the country. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with this request. At one time hockey was called the national game of the country. Once upon a time it was. Kabaddi was also the national sport of the country. But currently there is no such national game in India. Naveen Patnaik made that request this time.
Privately, hockey is still considered the national game of India. And the Hockey World Cup is going to be held in Odisha in November. That is why more and more Pattanayak wants hockey to be officially recognized as a national sport.
In his letter, Patnaik wrote to Modi, “You know the next hockey World Cup will be held in Odisha in November. When I sat down to discuss the entire preparations for this tournament, I was surprised to know that what we used to know as a national game is not really a national game at all.
He also wrote, “I am sure you will also agree that hockey, the favorite sport of billions of people in our country, should be recognized as a national sport. Which will also honor those hockey players who have made our country proud in hockey.”
Last February, the Odisha government shocked the hockey world by announcing that they would sponsor the Indian hockey team. This has never happened in the past when a state government sponsored a national party. Hockey is the only sport from which India has brought home eight Olympic gold medals. Odisha has the highest number of hockey fans among the Indian states.
