Patna: The trophy for the Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2025 received a grand and traditional reception in Patna on Wednesday, as part of its nationwide tour leading up to the 14th edition of the tournament, set to take place from November 28 to December 10 in Chennai and Madurai. At the Darbar Hall of Raj Bhavan, Bihar Governor Arif Mohammed Khan unveiled the trophy after lighting a ceremonial lamp. Officials described the event as a moment of pride and celebration for Bihar, particularly for the city of Patna.
Attendees included senior dignitaries such as the Governor’s Principal Secretary R L Chongthu, Additional Chief Secretary (Sports) Dr B Rajender, Director General and CEO of the Bihar State Sports Authority Ravindran Sankaran, and Sports Director Mahendra Kumar. Dr Rajender presented a commemorative memento to the Governor. Ravindran Sankaran, DG-cum-CEO of the Bihar State Sports Authority, highlighted the event’s significance, calling the trophy’s visit a historic and proud occasion for all of Bihar. He noted that this year’s World Cup features 24 of the world’s top teams, enhancing the global stature of the event.
Sankaran explained that the trophy tour, which commenced in New Delhi on November 7, aims to ignite sporting spirit, inspire young athletes, and connect the tournament with every Indian household. The tour will visit 20 cities, concluding in Kerala on November 20. Patna was selected as a stop due to the state’s burgeoning sports culture and increasing international recognition. India has hosted the Junior World Cup four times previously and has won the trophy twice, in 2001 and 2016. Officials are optimistic that the Indian team will perform exceptionally well this year. Sankaran remarked that the trophy represents not only sporting excellence but also the aspirations, determination, and future of millions of young athletes nationwide.
After the ceremony at Raj Bhavan, the trophy was taken to key locations in Patna and was displayed at the Pataliputra Sports Complex, where a large gathering of athletes, coaches, and locals came to view it. At the stadium, the trophy was exhibited to the public, followed by a ‘Passing the Ball’ event where Sankaran joined young players, coaches, and officials from the Bihar State Sports Authority and Bihar Hockey Association to symbolically pass the hockey ball to promote emerging talent.
