India Today’s correspondent Alan John caught up with fans at the Asia Cup venue in Rajgir, where excitement over the matches quickly turned into a lively debate: could this city, with its new stadium and buzzing atmosphere, become India’s next big sports hub?
00:00As a hockey fan, you are getting to see matches in free tickets.
00:05How do you feel about this tournament and excitement?
00:10Sir, I am very happy to understand that what I was going to go out to Delhi and Mumbai,
00:16I was getting to see myself in the city.
00:19The same enjoyment is happening to us. It's very good.
00:23And do you have to miss the India match yesterday?
00:27We have to miss the India match.
00:30But there is a match in the night.
00:32We will have to see it.
00:34Now, the question is,
00:35there are two tournaments in Rajagir in hockey.
00:39It was women's and now it was men's.
00:42What do you feel that this is a big step for Rajagir to make a big destination for sports?
00:50How do you feel about that?
00:52The event is happening in Bihar.
00:54The first thing is that we are creating international clubs on the earth.
01:01So, this is why we are getting to see this.
01:04And we want to see that everyone will get an opportunity to play.
01:09It is a tremendous challenge.
01:10You are the most important challenge.
01:11And so, I think you can also tell a lot of challenges.
01:14Because you are not in the future,
01:16because without you,
01:17it was not possible to be able to see that you are not.
01:19You are able to take on the top of the regal.
01:22They are the most important challenge in the future.
01:24What do you think about this tournament?
01:26What do you want to see what you want to see in the tournament?
01:30What do you want to see?
01:32First of all, I want to see a win in India.
01:35In this tournament, India will win.
01:37Then there will be a lot of tournaments here.
01:40What do you want to see a cricket stadium?
01:44What do you want to see a hockey team here?
01:51First of all, everyone is a cricket lover.
01:55We like to see a cricket lover and play a little.
01:58Every day when it starts, we are very excited.
02:03How long have you been in Rajgir?
02:05Almost one year, two months.
02:07It's been one year.
02:09So how has the experience been now that hockey,
02:12this is the second tournament of hockey that is happening in Rajgir.
02:17And Rajgir for a long period of time has been always known as an ancient city.
02:21There's not been a lot of sports that has happened.
02:24So how does it feel to have two back-to-back FIH tournaments here?
02:28And obviously your team is also playing today.
02:33It feels really great.
02:34Last tournament was women's hockey.
02:36We didn't attend that tournament actually because we didn't know about that.
02:41This time Bangladesh came and we are very happy to enjoy this match.
02:45Let's see what's going to happen.
02:47Bangladesh should win this match.
02:49Yeah, so basically yesterday night we are thinking that we didn't get the ticket for this tournament.
02:54How could we enter the match?
02:56And today we came and we tried to come and we saw there isn't a ticket available and we came.
03:02And we hope so Bangladesh will win today.
03:05So did you guys see the match yesterday?
03:07No actually we didn't.
03:09This is my first match.
03:11First match.
03:12So what are your expectations now?
03:14Do you feel like Rajgir is going to pick up, be a hockey hub going forward and open doors for many many teams like Bangladesh and other teams to come here and play hockey?
03:26Yeah, that will be because the government also taking some initiative for that.
03:31So maybe in my opinion maybe in future within 2-3 hours it will be.
03:36Yeah, it's the biggest initiative that we are watching hockey stadium, cricket stadium and also they are installing Rajgir International Airport.
03:45So we are hopeful that something will be good in here.
03:51I am a banker.
03:52Yeah, so you are from Rajgir.
03:55So you are from Rajgir?
03:56Yes.
03:57So you are from Rajgir.
03:58Yes.
03:59So you are from Rajgir?
04:00So you are from Rajgir?
04:01Yes.
04:02I am very good.
04:03First match is the match.
04:04But the opportunity is not for us.
04:06But the opportunity is also here in the past.
04:08We are also going to be a stadium.
04:10So the opportunity will be further.
04:12And now, are you seeing today our match?
04:15Yes.
04:16We're going to listen to India.
04:17The match is just for us.
04:18It's the match is today.
04:19The ticket is Sunday.
04:20the next match in India.
04:23Do you feel like hockey is running now or the other tournament?
04:29Last year it was a women's tournament and now it's a men's tournament.
04:34Do you feel like hockey is going to be picked up from now?
04:41Yes, yes.
04:43Do you feel like hockey is going to be a big hockey club or sports club?
04:58Yes, sports club and education club was already there and now it's been a university.
05:05So, you have said that you have to grow.
05:08And you said before the interview that you have hit a bit of a bank.
