Rourkela : The FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup was accorded a rousing welcome by SAIL, Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) on 14th January, 2023. Mr. Atanu Bhowmick, Director In-Charge, RSP received the Trophy in an attractive programme organised at the Shilpa Konark Enclosure in front of the Steel Plant Main gate in the morning. Mr. Subrat Tarai, MLA, Raghunathpalli, Mr. S R Suryawanshi, ED (Works), Mr. P K Satapathy, ED(P&A), Mr. P K Sahoo, ED (Projects), Mr. Somnath Tripathy, ED (MM), Dr. B K Hota, ED (M&HS), Mr. P K Rath, CGM In-charge (Mines) and Mr. A K Behuria, CGM In-charge (F&A), several other CGMs and Senior Officers, representatives of Trade Unions and Executive Association as well as a cross section of employees were present at the venue to welcome the trophy.
The Trophy was received amidst the playing of the Anthem. The Trophy was placed in a splendidly decorated open vehicle to be taken to different locations in the Steel City for public viewing. The journey began with scintillating Odissi and folk dance performances in front of the main gate of the plant.
The cavalcade carrying the Trophy made its way through the city in a decorated vehicle and covered the Steel City with spectacular functions organised at strategic locations. A decorated tableau with tribal dances troupes enhanced the beauty of the entourage.
Mr. Atanu Bhowmick and Dr. Subhankar Mohapatra, ADM, Rourkela joined the celebrations at National Flag Enclosure, Sector-6 and accompanied the trophy convoy to a distance. Special arrangements were made at Indira Gandhi Park, Biju Pattnaik Chowk, Biju Pattnaik Hockey Stadium, Sector- 6 Kendriya Vidyalay Chowk, National Flag enclosure at Sector-6, Sector- 7/17 Chowk, Sector- 8 Chowk, Civic Centre, VIP Road, Sector- 20 and CISF Barrack to accord a warm welcome to the trophy. More than 3000 Children of different Schools of the Steel City joined the carnival and welcomed the trophy with overwhelming enthusiasm. Various community centres, market committees and socio cultural organizations also joined the celebrations to welcome the trophy. Tunes of Hockey Anthem kept the environment festive and vibrant throughout the city tour of the trophy.