Hockey stadium at Kalinga Sports Complex gets ready for the Champions Trophy in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 26: The Indian hockey team is scheduled to arrive here tomorrow for the Champions Trophy, which would be hosted at Kalinga Sports Complex from December 6.

With eight hockey teams taking part in the contest, preparations are on in full swing at the venue.

While the dressing rooms are being refurbished, the stands are being cleaned.

The authorities have also replaced the iron net fencing around the play area with fibreglass to ensure a clear view.

Work has also been expedited to install floodlights at the newly built practice turf, where team India will stretch out.

The installation of four floodlight towers at the practice turf will be completed by November 29.

The teams will be putting up at four hotels in the city. The city police have made elaborate security arrangements for the matches.

“Adequate police personnel will be deployed around the hotels where players from various countries will be staying. Besides, security would also be tightened around the stadium during the matches,” said deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi.

Officials of the sports department said the sale of tickets for the tournament has been satisfactory so far.

“Out of the 7,000 tickets on sale for three matches of the host country, 70 per cent of them have been sold so far. The sale of tickets for other matches is also encouraging,” said a sports department official.

The authorities have also accelerated the work on parking lots. “Ground levelling work is being done to ensure that most of the vehicles are parked near the stadium. Besides, there would be designated parking lots for cars, buses and motorcycles,” the official said.

After the Champions trophy, the stadium would host the inaugural match of the third edition of Hockey India League (HIL).

Home team Kalinga Lancers would take on Ranchi Rays on January 22.

“Last year we had seen world class hockey in the HIL. However, the thrill would be double this time with the city hosting Champions Trophy and third edition of HIL in quick succession. We are hopeful of India putting up a good show at the Champions Trophy, which is the first international hockey tournament to be hosted by the city,” said Sambit Mohanty, a sports enthusiast.