Hockey is the unofficial sport of Sundargarh district, and Rourkela's brand-new Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium — built on the site of the old Biju Patnaik Hockey Stadium and opened in 2023 — is one of the most modern venues for the sport anywhere in the world. The stadium has hosted Hockey India League matches, FIH Pro League games, and the 2023 World Cup, and on match days the crowds spill out into the surrounding streets.
Even if you are not here for a game, the building itself, with its swooping concrete roof, is worth a look. Pickup hockey games on the surrounding fields are a part of everyday life in this town.