New Delhi [India], June 21 (NT): Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore has asserted that for loving hockey no official proclamation is needed.

In a response to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to officially make hockey India's national sport Rathore said, "For loving sports and hockey, we do not need official proclamation. (Like) now (that) it is (our) national sport so let us start loving it”.

He added that even in terms of facilities, hockey is one of the priority sports of our country. He lauded that he would leave this up to the people who love Hockey whether they would want it to be affirmed a national sport officially or they would keep on to love it even if it remains unofficial.

Earlier Patnaik has written a letter to Prime Minister Modi, asking for him to officially recognize hockey as the national sport of India.

Worth mention here the much-anticipated Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup is lined up to be held from November 28 to December 16 at the iconic Kalinga Hockey Stadium .In the wake of this Patnaik said that he was shocked to learn that hockey -which is considered as our national game--has never been officially notified.

"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," Patnaik’s letter read out to Prime Minister Modi.

Patnaik then pleaded to the Prime Minister Modi to recognize hockey as the national game.