The synthetic turf being prepared before the inauguration of Indian Hockey League at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 27: The stage is set for Kalinga Lancers to make its debut in the Hockey India League (HIL) tomorrow.

The sixth franchise of the HIL will hit the field in the second edition of the premier event at 8pm after a star-studded opening ceremony at Kalinga stadium.

Odia filmstars Akash Das Nayak and Anu Choudhary and internationally acclaimed dancer Harihar Das would perform in the opening ceremony that will kick-start at 6.15pm. The ceremony will include sound-and-light and laser shows, while fireworks will light up the night sky and dazzle the audience before the players wield the sticks.

However, the lukewarm response towards ticket sales for the first match of Kalinga Lancers against Punjab Warriors has become a major concern for the organisers. An official of the Odisha Sports Development and Promotion Company, the promoter of the franchise, said around 700 tickets had been sold so far for the inaugural match.

“We are hopeful that the remaining tickets for the first match would be sold tomorrow,” he said.

Out of 7,000 seats, the company had decided to sell 5,000 tickets online and through the counters as well. The hockey stadium in the city will host five encounters on January 28, February 1, 2, 13 and 14.

Ready to put up an impressive show, players of Kalinga Lancers today chalked out a strategy for tomorrow’s match, while their rival — Punjab Warriors — landed in the city today.

Exuding confidence and optimism, coach of Kalinga Lancers Terry Walsh said: “We have analysed the video clippings of the last two matches played by Punjab Warriors. Accordingly, we have also chalked put a plan for tomorrow’s match.”

Officials of the home team hope that the players of Kalinga Lancers will benefit from climatic conditions of the city.

“Though it is hot and humid in the day time, the climate would be different in the evening. We should not forget that our opponent is coming for cooler climes. We will want to use the climatic conditions to our advantage as the players have already spend a week here.”