My City Links: February 2023 Issue

Book excerpt: The cheers have faded and the fans have long returned home but the memories linger on, such was the scale of the sporting extravaganza that unfolded through January. With Odisha hosting back-to-back FIH Men's Hockey World Cups in 2018 and 2023, the state has firmly established itself on the sports map of the world. The 2023 Men's Hockey World Cup was not limited to the stadiums in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela where all the matches were played. The excitement and the celebrations spilled over onto the streets of cities and villages all over Odisha. Our Cover Story brings you a recap of all the action and excitement. Our City Zen for this edition is Sarthak Pradhan, who was awarded a gold medal during Utkal University's recent convocation ceremony. While he works in the private sector, he is also an author and columnist. He opens up about his journey so far. The recent outbreak of flu across the state sparked fears due to similarities with the symptoms of a Covid-19 infection. While the flu has become a common enough occurrence during the winters, this time, the fever lasted longer. We look for some explanations in the City Health section. This edition salutes women who have broken the glass ceiling and made a mark in a field which has traditionally been considered to be a stronghold of men. These are scientists who are excelling in research, innovation, and exploration. Read all about them in City Beat. The City Lights section brings you highlights from a five-day fashion and lifestyle extravaganza that was headlined by top names from the world of fashion, entertainment, and sports. Our City Biz section focuses on what is fast emerging as the latest obsession around the world. We are talking about Web 3.0, and its use of components of Metaverse technology like Blockchain and Non-fungible Tokens (NFTs). The past year can be considered a watershed year for Odia cinema. Several Ollywood films enjoyed theatrical success - a rarity in recent times - while a few offbeat films also managed to draw the audience to the theatres. In Screen Shots, we explore if this marks the beginning of a new era for Odia cinema.