Bhubaneswar: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik has made a strong pitch for hockey being officially recognised as India's national game ahead of the Men's Hockey World Cup here in November.

"As you know Sir, the next World Cup Hockey will be held in Odisha in November this year. While reviewing the preparations, I was surprised and shocked to know that what is popularly known as the National Game - Hockey, has in fact never been notified as our National Game," Naveen wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Hence I am sure you will agree with the crores loving fans of our country - that Hockey truly deserves to be notified as our National Game. This will be fitting tribute to the great Hockey players who have made our country proud. It will also inspire our future generations," the letter added.

Naveen, who earlier this year announced his government's first-of-its-kind association with the game by becoming the sponsor of the national men's and women's teams, also recalled India's past accolades at international level.

"For any country winning an Olympic gold medal is a proud moment. What makes it more glorious is to hear the national anthem being played on the national stage while the country's flag goes up. In 1948 as a newborn nation India witnessed this glory in London when the national hockey team won the Olympic gold medal. A nation of 33 crores rejoiced as the gold was won in London by defeating Great Britan," he wrote.

Naveen also stated that till the 1980s, India's standing in international sports was marked by its brilliance in hockey. He referred to the growing popularity of the game, especially in tribal dominated areas of Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.

"Cutting across different strata of society and regions, cutting across the rural urban divide, hockey is hugely popular. In the tribal areas of Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh hockey is a way of life. In fact, in a first of its kind, the state of Odisha is sponsoring the National Hockey Teams for the next five years," wrote Naveen, who has been personally supervising the preparations for the world cup that will be held at Kalinga Stadium.

Former India captain and chairman of the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation Dilip Tirkey justified the chief minister's demand saying that hockey was the game that put India on the international stage for the first time. "We have been Olympic champions eight times and won the World Cup once. It is time the game gets its due," he said.