After Odisha, It’s Bihar's Turn To Make Hockey Central To Its Sports Policy

Bihar’s Rajgir is set to host the Men's Hockey Asia Cup 2025 — a qualifier event for the 2026 Hockey World Cup.

The tournament, featuring eight teams, will begin on 27 August 2025, with the final slated for 8 September.

"Hockey India has already discussed this with the Department of Sports and BSSA (Bihar State Sports Authority), and in concurrence with the government, we have agreed to host the event," BSSA director general Ravindran Sankaran said. "The proposal was accepted today (21 November), and we will now proceed to sign the MoU.”

To support the event, Rajgir’s International Sports Complex (ISC) will see upgrades, including a new turf and enhanced hostel facilities.

On the same day the Asia Cup was announced, the Ministry of Youth Affairs declared that Bihar would also host the Khelo India Youth Games 2025.

Bagging two big sporting events in one day is an exceptional achievement for Bihar. The way the announcements came suggests that the authorities were impressed by the state’s facilities but were awaiting the successful completion of a pilot project.

The state organised the eighth edition of the Women's Asian Champions Trophy between 10 and 20 November 2024. It was also the title sponsor, so the tournament got the name "Bihar Asian Champions Trophy."

India emerged triumphant, beating China 1-0 to retain their hold on the trophy, thanks to a 31st-minute penalty corner by Deepika Kumari, who ended up as the tournament’s top scorer.

The tournament was held at the newly constructed Rajgir International Stadium, which is part of the sprawling ISC. Rajgir played host to six teams, namely India, China, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, and Korea.

When the announcement was made in the last week of August, the naysayers had their doubts about the state's ability to pull off the tournament. However, Bihar not only organised it successfully; it even took on the key responsibility of the tournament's promotion.

The sports department of the Bihar government, BSSA, Hockey India, and the Asian Hockey Federation collaborated to make the event happen.

On its part, the Bihar government authorised Rs 10 crore for the event, and the state’s chief minister, Nitish Kumar, flagged the Asian Hockey Championship (women) Gaurav Yatra to promote it.

The yatra, comprising students, former players, and sports officials, covered 38 districts of Bihar by bus. Later, they went to Haryana, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Punjab too.

The stadium features modern amenities, like night lights, a world-class Astroturf, seating arrangements for more than 6,000 people, environment management measures, advanced drone operations, and intensive fumigation protocols to ensure that the arrangements are right up there with the global standards. The key facilities are also mapped and listed out on a dedicated website.

Harendra Singh, the coach of the champion team and a resident of Chhapra in Bihar, said the Rajgir stadium is the second-best facility in the world after the one at Colarado in the United States (US).

For Singh, the tournament's success was personal on two fronts. First, he has been in charge of the team since April, after it failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics. Coming from that position to achieve a numero-uno finish is quite an achievement.

Salima Tete, the captain of the team, credited Singh with giving every player the freedom to express themselves in whichever positions they like.

Secondly, Singh has always been critical of politicisation of sports and is now happy to finally get the ground running in his home state.

"For 28 years I have been urging people across all walks of life to promote hockey in the state, but nobody took note of it. A coach always aspires to coach his team to success in his birthplace. Today my dream has been fulfilled by these 20 daughters of mine," he said.

The organisers also put on laser shows and other crowd-pulling events during the 10-day period of the tournament.

For safety, the venue was declared a no-fly zone, and 1,300 cops, including 13 senior officers, were deployed to guard the tournament.

"Four dog squads, eight anti-sabotage units, six bomb detection and disposal squads, and several drones have also been deployed. Additionally, other security equipment, such as 60 handheld and two deep-search metal detectors, 20 binoculars, 60 public address systems, 20 wireless devices, and 40 traffic control trolleys, are in place," said J S Gangwar, the director general (DG) of police headquarters.

After the tournament, the Bihar government awarded prize money to the winning team. It announced Rs 10 lakh for every player and coach Singh.

Meanwhile, Hockey India declared Rs 3 lakh per player, and the Asian Hockey Federation awarded the entire team $10,000 (approximately Rs 8.45 lakh) for their victory.

To promote hockey further, BSSA will set up two more turfs in Patna, one in Purnia and the other in Rajgir’s ISC.

The successful event will now have a significant impact on the reputation of the sports complex.

Spread across an expansive 90 acres and constructed at a cost of Rs 740 crore, the Rajgir ISC stands as one of India's most advanced and comprehensive sports facilities.

It offers world-class infrastructure and amenities for 24 different disciplines, including athletics, football, hockey, volleyball, kabaddi, swimming, and wrestling.

The self-sufficient campus is meticulously designed to provide athletes with seamless access to training facilities, accommodation, and medical care in one place.

Its main cricket stadium, boasting a seating capacity of 50,000 spectators, is expected to become its selling point in the future. The large stadium is complemented by eight additional stadiums, each capable of accommodating 10,000 people, making it an ideal venue for hosting both national and international sporting events.

The facility goes beyond standard offerings to host a state-of-the-art hospital, an advanced fitness centre, and sports research facilities that emphasise holistic athletic development. 

Its design marries modern utility with cultural heritage, featuring murals inspired by the ancient educational hub of Nalanda gracing the interiors of spaces like the hockey arena and the changing rooms.

Additionally, ISC houses the Bihar Sports University (BSU), an institution approved in July 2021 to enhance education and research in sports-related fields like physical education, sports science, technology, and management, and advanced training techniques. 

As a centre for high-level sports research and innovation, BSU employs a team of 81 permanent and 33 contractual professionals, comprising directors, trainers, dieticians, and yoga instructors.

The university will provide both academic and professional support to athletes, nurturing their growth and preparing them for global competitions.

Currently, Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Rajnikant, who serves as the registrar of the Bihar Sports Directorate, is interim vice chancellor of BSU.

Officials are optimistic that by 2032, athletes trained at the Rajgir complex will not only participate but also excel at the Olympics for India.

The credit for Rajgir's rise in its aspirations to become the epicentre of sports in Bihar is given to the state's chief minister, Nitish Kumar. Rajgir, once the capital of the Magadha Empire, has received special attention from Kumar.

A notable addition at the facility is the transparent glass bridge, inspired by similar global attractions, along with a nature safari park featuring ziplining and adventure trails.

The development of a scenic zipline cycling track and the restoration of the historic Venu Van further boost its appeal as a premier eco-tourism destination. 

Efforts to preserve cultural and religious heritage have been equally significant, with the maintenance of the iconic Vishwa Shanti Stupa, Rajgir’s inclusion in the Buddhist Circuit for better connectivity with Bodh Gaya and Nalanda, and the renovation of Jain temples.

Connectivity in the region has seen substantial improvement, including the modernisation of the ropeway to the Shanti Stupa, upgraded highways connecting Rajgir to Patna and Gaya, and enhanced railway networks. 

Modern amenities at Rajgir’s hot springs have further enhanced their accessibility and appeal to visitors. The proximity to Nalanda University adds to Rajgir’s growing reputation as an academic and knowledge hub.

Eco-tourism has received a boost through enhancements to the Rajgir Wildlife Sanctuary and the installation of solar lighting systems in key tourist areas, emphasising sustainable development. 

Landmark projects such as the Rs 33.56 crore Rajgir International Convention Centre and the Integrated Tourist Facility near the Vishwa Shanti Stupa, which includes shopping centres, dining areas, parking facilities, and accessible infrastructure, are other projects expected to bring in large returns from high tourist footfalls.

One of the biggest infrastructure projects designed for Rajgir was ensuring that Ganga water is diverted to reach Rajgir. Its estimated cost is more than Rs 4,000 crore and involves the lifting of Ganga water, transportation in a special pipeline, storage, treatment, and then supply to homes.

For a Rajgir resident, it translates to a supply of 135 litres of Ganga water per person per day.

Cultural celebrations, such as the annual Rajgir Mahotsav, bring local heritage to the forefront. This is done to highlight the city's achievements and facilities.

With all that focus on Rajgir, Kumar has drawn some political ire too, as Rajgir is part of Nalanda, Kumar's hometown. Now with the sports complex, the opposition has one more axe to grind.

Meanwhile, the 2024 Bihar Women's Asian Champions Trophy concludes in quiet resonance with its motto: "Hockey ka Parv, Bihar ka Garv."