Dhyanchand National Stadium

Once it chronicled Mir Ranjan Negi's epic fall from grace, Dhanraj Pillay's artistic stick-work and Sandeep Singh's muscular drag-flicks but in the past decade or so, Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium seemed resigned to the fact that its glory days as epicentre of Indian hockey were a thing of past. The two-match Test series against Germany on October 23 and 24 seems like the revival of Delhi's hockey spirit which has gone dormant in the past 10 years. Odisha government's seminal decision to help Indian hockey find its home in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela was a major factor in the shift of momentum, which can swing once again if the fans show up. Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey is hoping for a good turnout considering the growing popularity of hockey after two consecutive Olympic bronze medals. "Earlier domestic tournaments used to be held in Delhi in a very spectacular manner. I too made my international debut in Delhi through Indira Gandhi Gold Cup 1995. A large number of ...

The building was rented out by SAI to the union ministry of home affairs for Rs 4 crore per annum to meet rising expenses for proper management of the complex