Hyderabad, Mar 15 (TNT): The Women’s Hockey World Cup Qualifying Tournament concluded successfully at the Gachibowli Hockey Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday, drawing attention from the international sporting community and marking a significant milestone for Telangana’s sports sector.
Organised by the Telangana Sports Authority, the tournament showcased the state’s ability to host international sporting events while highlighting its hospitality and commitment to sports development.
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy inaugurated the tournament on March 8 as the chief guest.
The opening ceremony witnessed participation from athletes, officials and spectators from several countries, creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere. Cultural performances reflecting Telangana’s heritage added colour to the event.
The qualifying tournament holds importance in the international hockey calendar as it serves as a pathway to the Women’s Hockey World Cup scheduled to be held from August 14 to 30 in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Teams from India, Austria, England, Italy, Korea, Scotland, Uruguay and Wales participated in the tournament.
The matches were closely contested, with players displaying high levels of skill and sportsmanship throughout the competition.
The Telangana Sports Authority made extensive arrangements to ensure international standards at the venue.
A modern astroturf was installed at the Gachibowli Hockey Stadium and infrastructure around the stadium was upgraded to facilitate smooth conduct of the matches and provide a better viewing experience for spectators.
Special arrangements were made for participating teams, including security, accommodation, transportation and medical services.
Dedicated liaison officers were assigned to each team to coordinate their requirements. The organisers worked in coordination with Hockey India and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to oversee the tournament.
Athletes, officials and technical staff who visited Hyderabad appreciated the hospitality and organisational efforts of the Telangana government.
The state government extended full support to the event. Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka attended the closing ceremony as chief guest. Several ministers, senior government officials and public representatives were also present during the tournament.
Among the dignitaries who attended were Sports Minister Vakiti Srihari, Ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Seethakka and Ponnam Prabhakar, and former Indian cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin.
Several sports personalities also attended the event, including triple Olympian and Padma Shri awardee Mukesh Kumar, along with athletes from Telangana such as Isha Singh, Deepti Jeevanji and Satti Geetha.
The tournament witnessed strong spectator turnout, with large numbers of young fans attending the matches. Tickets were widely sold through an online system, reflecting growing interest in hockey among the public. Entertainment programmes, including laser shows and music performances during match intervals, added to the festive atmosphere at the stadium.
Officials said the successful organisation of the tournament demonstrated Telangana’s capability to host international sporting events and strengthened Hyderabad’s position as a potential hub for global sports competitions in the future.
TNT TS
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