Madurai, November 22, 2025: Ahead of the start of the 2025 FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup, the Government of Tamil Nadu inaugurated the Madurai International Hockey Stadium, a newly constructed world-class facility at the Race Course Complex. Designed to meet stringent Olympic standards and equipped with the latest infrastructure, the stadium marks a major boost for hockey development in South India.
The Honorable Deputy Prime Minister, Thiru. Udhayanidhi Stalin inaugurated the facility in the presence of Thiru P. Moorthy, Minister of Commercial Taxes, Registration and Stamp Duty, Tamil Nadu and Thiru Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, Minister of Information Technology and Digital Services, Tamil Nadu and MLAs from various constituencies.
Dr. Atulya Misra, IAAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu; Thirru J. Meghanatha Reddy, IAAS, CEO/Member Secretary, Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (sdat); Thiru KJ Pravenkumaur, IAAS, District College, Madurai; Thiru J. Lognathan, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Madurai; TMT Chitra Vijayan, IAAS, Commissioner, Madurai Corporation; Hockey India Treasurer Shri sekar J. Manoharan; And Hockey Director General CDR RK Srivastava was also present.
Spoke during the inauguration Deputy Prime Minister Thiru. Udhayanidhi Stalin said, “The newly constructed Madurai International Hockey Stadium is a testament to Tamil Nadu’s ambition to emerge as a global sporting destination. This facility symbolizes Madurai’s arrival on the world sporting stage. Our vision extends beyond this tournament – we aim to establish Madurai as the leading center of hockey excellence in South India and a catalyst for holistic development.”
Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey was proud of the new addition to the Indian hockey landscape. “It is a proud moment for Indian hockey to see another world-class stadium being added to our country’s infrastructure. On behalf of Hockey India, I express my sincere gratitude to the Government of Tamil Nadu, who have gone all out to create this facility in record time and have worked tirelessly to ensure the best infrastructure for the Junior World Cup. These types of facilities will inspire young athletes in Madurai and across Tamil Nadu to play the sport. The Madurai International Hockey Stadium will play a vital role in expanding the reach of hockey and nurturing future champions.”
Hockey India Secretary General Shri Bhola Nath Singh said: “The support from the Government of Tamil Nadu has been exceptional. Infrastructure of this scale allows us to pitch for more international events in India. It also strengthens the grassroots by providing a good ecosystem for young players to train, compete and excel. Hosting Junior World Cup matches here will have a lasting impact on the sporting culture in the region.”
Treasurer of Hockey IndiaShri Sekar J. Manoharan added, “For the hockey fraternity in Tamil Nadu, this stadium is a historic landmark. With artificial turf, lighting and amenities of world standard, Madurai is now fully prepared to host international competitions. We are confident that this facility will boost local participation and raise the standard of the sport in the state.”
The hosting of the 2025 FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup marks an important chapter in Madurai’s sporting history. The city will host three pools of the 24 participating countries in the tournament, with matches taking place from November 28 to December 10, 2025. A total of 72 matches will be played in Chennai and Madurai during the tournament.