Nationwide Hockey Festival: 1400 Matches Across 550 Districts Honors World’s Most Successful Hockey Nation
NEW DELHI: Nationwide celebrations to commemorate 100 glorious years of Indian Hockey officially commenced today, anchored by a grand event in the capital and massive engagement across the country.
The main event began at 8:30 AM at the iconic Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi, featuring a series of special events to capture the essence of Indian hockey’s journey. Simultaneously, a vast nationwide hockey festival is underway, featuring more than 1,400 matches across 550 districts.
A highlight of the New Delhi ceremony was a 30-minute exhibition match between the Union Minister’s XI and Hockey India’s Mixed XI. Featuring elite players from both the men’s and women’s national teams, the match aimed to highlight gender parity, teamwork, and inclusivity in the sport.
India holds the status of the world’s most successful hockey nation, boasting a remarkable record of eight Olympic gold medals and 13 Olympic podium finishes.
Following the exhibition match, the event included the felicitation of hockey legends, recognising their enduring contributions to the sport’s legacy. As a permanent tribute to generations of players, an official commemorative volume titled “100 Years of Indian Hockey” was also released.
The stadium also hosted a large-scale photo exhibition, taking visitors through a visual journey spanning a century of Indian hockey history.
