“Unfair On Hockey”: Belgian Player’s Remarks On India Hosting 2023 Hockey WC Stirs Row

Bhubaneswar: The Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023 got underway on Friday with a game between Argentina and South Africa at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. South Africa was defeated by Argentina 1-0 in the match. The showpiece competition’s hosts, India, on the other hand, won their opening match 2-0 over Spain.

Notably, this is the third time India is hosting the hockey World Cup in four recent iterations. Additionally, it hosted the event in New Delhi in 2010 and in 2018 (Bhubaneswar).

Belgian Hockey star Elliot van Strydonck expressed displeasure over India once again hosting the mega event in a recent interview with the media. According to Van Strydonck, India’s ability to host the big event for the third time in the previous four editions was made possible by the “power of money.”

How is it feasible for a sport to agree to hold three of its past four World Cups in the same nation, the hockey player was questioned.

“The power of money. Belgians know India and its obligations well. They must be careful with water and food. They have their routine. It is regrettable that India still hosts such an event. But India is the only country that can fill stadiums with 20,000 seats every day. The atmosphere is guaranteed. In addition, it is the only nation that can count on global sponsors like Hero or Odisha. The choice makes sense financially but is unfair to sporting fairness. The Red Lions have won everything in 4 years. However, the media coverage of hockey remains too limited here (in Belgium),” van Strydonck told Belgium newspaper La Libre as quoted by The Indian Express.