With just a few hours left for the opening ceremony of the Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018, here, the city is in a frenzy of excitement. Most of the 16 teams have reached Bhubaneswar and will play in four pools between November 28 and December 16, officials said.
The Kalinga Stadium, where the colourful inaugural programme is scheduled to be held and the matches played, is ready with flags of the participating countries already hoisted. Director General of Police Rajendra Prasad Sharma on Monday reviewed the security bandobast said security arrangements have been made from the airport to the hotels where the teams will be put up and from there to the stadium. (Image Courtesy: IANS)
Stars of the tinsel town are expected to be present and perform at the inaugural ceremony on Tuesday at the Kalinga Stadium here. Bollywood actress and well-known dancer Madhuri Dixit Nene arrived here this evening and will perform at the inaugural ceremony, Odisha sports secretary Vishal Dev said. She will be performing along with 1,000 artists in a dance drama called The Earth Song the theme of which is Oneness of Humanity, the official said. The dance drama created, written and directed by Nupur Mahajan will have Madhuri in the role of Mother Earth. Shah Rukh Khan, who is widely known in the hockey community for his support for the game, will arrive here on Tuesday and leave for Mumbai immediately after the show, he said. (Image Courtesy: ANI)