CM Majhi backs Team India ahead of Hockey World Cup
Synopsis
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi sent a rousing pre-tournament message to Team India on the eve of the 2026 Hockey World Cup, invoking the nation's eight Olympic gold medals and Odisha's role as Indian hockey's modern home.
Key Takeaways
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi posted a public message of support for Team India ahead of the 2026 Hockey World Cup on 14 August 2026 .
Majhi called hockey 'a tradition, an emotion and a matter of national pride' for India.
India holds eight Olympic gold medals in field hockey, all won between 1928 and 1980 .
Odisha hosted the 2023 FIH Hockey World Cup at venues in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela .
Majhi took office in June 2024 as Odisha's first BJP Chief Minister , inheriting the state's strong hockey infrastructure investments.
On the eve of the Hockey World Cup, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi sent a charged message to Team India — urging the players to carry not just a jersey but the weight of a nation's oldest sporting pride onto the world stage.
Posting on 14 August 2026, a day before the tournament's opening, Majhi wrote: 'From the stick to the strike, from the pass to the goal, let every move carry the pulse of India. You carry not just the hopes of a billion hearts, but the proud legacy of a nation where hockey is more than a sport — it is a tradition, an emotion and a matter of national pride.'
Why Odisha's voice carries special weight in Indian hockey
This is not a routine political send-off. Odisha has become the heartland of Indian hockey's modern revival, having hosted the 2023 FIH Hockey World Cup across venues in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela — the latter a purpose-built stadium that announced the state's ambitions to the world. When Majhi speaks about hockey as 'a tradition and an emotion,' he speaks from a state that has backed those words with concrete infrastructure.
Majhi, who assumed office in June 2024 as Odisha's first BJP Chief Minister, has inherited a sports-investment legacy that his government has continued to champion. The state's alignment with national hockey programmes gives his message a weight beyond ceremonial goodwill.
Eight gold medals and the hunger for more
India holds eight Olympic gold medals in field hockey — all won between 1928 and 1980 — a record that remains the sport's most storied dynasty. The decades since have been a long, painful climb back toward that peak. Every major tournament now arrives loaded with that history: a reminder of what was, and a demand for what could be again.
Majhi's call to 'go create history' lands precisely in that gap — between a glorious past and an unfinished present. Indian political leaders across parties have made a habit of rallying behind national teams at major tournaments, but for hockey, the emotional register is distinctly sharper. The sport sits at the intersection of Olympic legacy, state pride, and a genuine national conversation about sporting renewal.
The world is watching. So is a billion-strong nation that has never quite stopped believing.
Point of View
Associating with hockey's emotional currency on the eve of Independence Day weekend is strategically astute. The broader pattern here is states competing to own the hockey narrative as the central government pushes sports infrastructure as a soft-power and development metric. Watch whether Odisha announces further hockey-related investments or bids for future FIH events in the weeks ahead.
NationPress
14 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the 2026 Hockey World Cup start?
The 2026 Hockey World Cup begins on 15 August 2026 , according to Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi's post wishing Team India 'as the Hockey World Cup begins tomorrow.'
Why is Odisha important for Indian hockey?
Odisha hosted the 2023 FIH Hockey World Cup at Bhubaneswar and Rourkela , and has made significant infrastructure investments that have made it the hub of Indian hockey over the past decade.
How many Olympic gold medals has India won in hockey?
India has won eight Olympic gold medals in field hockey, all between 1928 and 1980 , making it the most successful nation in the sport's Olympic history.
Who is Mohan Charan Majhi?
Mohan Charan Majhi is the Chief Minister of Odisha and a BJP leader who took office in June 2024 as the state's first BJP chief minister.
What did CM Majhi say about Team India ahead of the Hockey World Cup?
CM Majhi urged Team India to let 'every move carry the pulse of India,' calling hockey 'a tradition, an emotion and a matter of national pride,' and signed off with 'Go create history.'
