Punjab, Odisha and Tamil Nadu have emerged as the frontrunners to host the 2030 FIH World Cups for both men and women.The development signals India’s interest in securing the hosting rights for the next editions of the showpiece tournaments, with three states emerging as potential venues.
Odisha has hosted the men’s World Cup twice, while Tamil Nadu organised the men’s Junior World Cup last year in Chennai and Madurai, as well as the men’s Asian Champions Trophy in 2023. Punjab, regarded as the cradle of Indian , is yet to host a major World Cup event.
The state is currently hosting the ,marking its return to the international hockey calendar after 17 years. Punjab last hosted an international hockey tournament in 2009, when it organised the Gold Cup.
“Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Punjab are all in the race. If Odisha gets the Hockey World Cup, it will be a big achievement for the state. Odisha will be the first preference,” Bhola Nath said. Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh
The Hockey India secretary general said his primary focus since taking charge had been to expand the sport’s reach across the country by hosting international tournaments in different states.
“I want to take hockey to every corner of the country. Tamil Nadu has produced many Olympians, and we took the Junior World Cup there last year. Punjab is now an example. We are now taking the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy to Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. No international tournament has been held in Madhya Pradesh so far. The women’s ACT will be held from November 19 to 28 in Bhopal,” he said.
“The purpose of taking hockey to every part of the country is to build infrastructure of international standards.”
Explaining the decision to bring the Asian Champions Trophy to Punjab, Bhola Nath said the state’s rich hockey legacy and its significant representation in the national team played a key role.
“When I became the secretary general of Hockey India, I saw that most of the players in the team were from Punjab. When I spoke to the boys from Punjab, they used to say that they had played in countries across the world, but their parents had never seen them play an international match. So, I wanted to organise an international tournament in Punjab,” he said.
He added that the idea took shape after a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who agreed to host the tournament. “The talks were going on, and one day I met Bhagwant Mann (Punjab Chief Minister) and discussed this with him. He said he was ready and would do it,” Bhola Nath said.