Junior Hockey World Cup 2021 was played in:

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is (1):
The Junior Hockey World Cup 2021, officially titled the FIH Hockey Men's Junior World Cup, was hosted by India at the **Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha**. The tournament was held from November 24 to December 5, 2021. Odisha was selected as the host state due to its comprehensive support for Indian hockey, the world-class infrastructure provided by the Kalinga Stadium, and its prior successful experience in hosting major international tournaments like the 2018 Senior Men's Hockey World Cup. The event attracted 16 teams globally, underscoring the state's capability to manage an event of this magnitude. Therefore, Odisha is the factually correct and officially designated host state.

The incorrect option is (2):
Punjab, despite its rich legacy and historical significance in producing hockey players for the national team, was not selected as the host state for the 2021 Junior World Cup. While the state possesses excellent sporting facilities, the official decision by Hockey India and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) explicitly named Odisha and its capital city, Bhubaneswar, as the venue. Punjab has certainly hosted numerous national-level competitions, but for a premier FIH event like the Junior World Cup, a specific host city is named, and in this case, it was not in Punjab.

The incorrect option is (3):
Haryana is another state in India that has a strong sporting culture and has produced many medal-winning athletes across various disciplines. However, it did not serve as the host state for the 2021 Junior Hockey World Cup. International tournaments of this scale are often centrally managed and rely on state-of-the-art, FIH-certified stadiums, which Odisha provided. Haryana was not involved in hosting the main tournament, nor was any city within the state mentioned as a potential alternative venue for the 2021 edition.

The incorrect option is (4):
New Delhi has been a historic venue for major multi-sport and single-sport events in India, including the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the 2013 Men's Hockey Junior World Cup. However, New Delhi was not the host city for the 2021 edition. The hosting responsibility was transferred further east to Odisha to capitalize on the modern Kalinga Stadium and the state's demonstrated commitment to promoting hockey, making New Delhi an outdated choice for this specific event.