Odisha’s capital city Bhubaneswar has, in recent years, undergone significant transformations on multiple fronts. A city known for temples and as the gateway to Puri, has seen itself grow as a medical and educational hub in the eastern part of the country.

What has also given a new identity to the city is its push to project itself as the sports capital of India. And the first step towards the goal was to bring home the very sport truly synonymous with the heartbeat of the state.  

At the heart of the city stands an iconic ground that has carved a niche for itself in the Indian sporting landscape. A venue that has taken Bhubaneswar to the world, and left visiting teams in awe.  

Etched in history for hosting back-to-back Hockey World Cups is the Kalinga Stadium — a world-class venue that has helped transform the city into a hub for international hockey. Initially built in 2010, it was made bigger and better in the run-up to the 2018 Men’s Hockey World Cup. 

Besides the 2018 and 2023 iterations of the world championship, it has also hosted marquee events like the FIH Pro League, Olympic qualifiers, and was the home ground to the city’s Hockey India League franchise Kalinga Lancers.

Hockey’s homecoming

To say Bhubaneswar really loves hockey would be an understatement. The city became popular for sports because of meticulous planning, investment in sports, and unwavering support from fans. 

In 2014, Bhubaneswar hosted the Champions Trophy for the first time, which opened the floodgates for the city to become the undisputed home of Indian hockey. Following the success of the global tournament, the city was rewarded with another international marquee event — the FIH World League Finals in 2017.

Since then, there has been no looking back. The ground sees fans turn up in large numbers, even during rough weather. The venue has also hosted the Junior hockey world cup in 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

While hockey has seen crowds disappear and grounds in other states often struggle to fill the stands, the crowd at Kalinga Stadium paints a different picture — loud and bustling with excitement. No wonder, that even international players feel charged up when they play here. 

But the story goes beyond the stadium. Young children in the city now dream of becoming hockey players, an ambition once lost because of dwindling interest in the sport. The reason: training centres like the Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre and other grassroots initiatives.

Lancers: Born from tradition

Long before the Hockey India League (HIL) came to fruition, Odisha had had its tryst with a victory in a domestic hockey league, when Orissa Steelers were crowned champions of the erstwhile Premier Hockey League — the first hockey league in the country, run by the now-defunct Indian Hockey Federation — in the 2007 edition.

While the league and the franchise became history, the birth of the Hockey India League in 2013 led to the establishment of the Kalinga Lancers, the new identity of Odisha’s hockey tradition.  

The franchise, originally co-owned by Mahanadi Coalfields Limited and the Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation, reflects Odisha’s strong cultural affinity for hockey and its growing role in India’s professional sporting landscape. Named to evoke the valour of the ancient warriors of the Kalinga kingdom, the Lancers embody strength, speed, and strategic precision on the turf.

A fun fact for hockey aficionados: the premature end to the HIL in 2017 meant the Kalinga Lancers, who won the last edition before the league hit a pause, would remain the longest ever defending champions before the HIL resumed after a near-eight year hiatus. 

This is because the Lancers are the only surviving field hockey team competing at the top tier of Indian hockey, while every other team was a newly set up entity when the league resumed in 2024. Lancers have, since, become a symbol of continuity and tradition under the full ownership of Vedanta Limited, which acquired the franchise in 2024 and retained the brand.

Over the years, the Lancers have attracted top domestic and international talent. Hockey legends such as Lucas Vila, Gonzalo Peillat, Roc Oliva, Tristan Clemons, Aran Zalewski, Moritz Fürste, Glenn Turner, Adam Dixon, Billy Bakker, Mathew Dawson, and Andrew Charter represented the team between 2013 and 2017. Backed by a loyal fan base, the team enjoyed notable success, finishing runners-up in 2016 before lifting the coveted trophy in 2017.

Indian stars Amit Rohidas and Lalit Upadhyay also represented the Odisha-based franchise and later went on to win Olympic medals at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Games, further underscoring the Lancers’ role in nurturing elite talent.

How Bhubaneswar took centre stage 

Today, Bhubaneswar is described as the “cradle of Indian Hockey”. The synergy between the Kalinga Lancers, the state-of-the-art Kalinga Stadium, and a community deeply passionate about the sport all remain key factors in fuelling a vibrant hockey culture. 

An iconic team playing at an iconic ground, along with passionate fans, all make the city special. Matches at this venue are not just games — they are celebrations of passion and love for the sport.

When the HIL was not held for several years, the team stayed away from its home ground, creating a void among hockey fans who yearned to see the team back in action. When the league resumed in 2024–25, the tournament was staged in Rourkela and Ranchi, keeping Bhubaneswar’s fans waiting.

However, the wait is finally over. The team returns to its den — the iconic Kalinga Stadium — after a long time for the final leg of the 2025-2026 edition. For the fans, this is a homecoming not just special but emotional, eight years in the making. 

It brings back memories, pride, and a deep connection built on love, loyalty, legacy and passion for hockey. Once again, Bhubaneswar is ready to turn every match into a festival and cheer its team with all its heart. Hockey for Bhubaneswar isn’t just a sport, it’s a festival, a carnival, and its sense of identity. 

Finally, hockey is coming home.