Odisha to sponsor Indian Hockey groups for 10 extra years: CM Naveen Patnaik

By PTI

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Tuesday introduced the extension of the state authorities’s sponsorship to Indian Hockey groups by 10 years and likewise handed over a money award of Rs 10 lakh to every participant for his or her historic feat in Tokyo Olympics.

The chief minister additionally introduced money award of Rs 5 lakh for every help workers of Indian Men’s and Women’s Hockey groups.

Announcing this whereas felicitating the nationwide hockey groups at a programme right here, Patnaik stated “The two teams have scripted history with their brilliant performance at the Tokyo Olympics”.

The state authorities, which has been sponsoring each males’s and girls’s hockey groups since 2018, will proceed to help the sport for an additional 10 years in recognition of their achievement in Tokyo Olympics and their potential to be the highest groups on the planet, he stated.

Patnaik felicitated the Indian ladies’s hockey workforce captain Rani Rampal and its members and the “inspirational” males’s hockey workforce captain Manpreet Singh and its members for bagging a bronze which was at least a gold for India, an announcement issued by the chief minister’s workplace stated.

Each workforce gifted a framed jersey autographed by the gamers to Patnaik as a token of the regard and appreciation.

“You made us all so proud with your spirited fight in Tokyo. These are deeply emotional moments for India to witness the revival of Indian hockey,” Patnaik stated including that for almost 4 a long time followers of the sport have been craving to see India win a medal on the Olympics.

It is kind of evident from the best way the whole nation was glued to TV screens to look at the Indian hockey groups’ matches that there’s something extra to hockey than simply sports activities, he stated.

“Amidst the COVID pandemic, it is remarkable that our teams worked hard and emerged victorious. In these times of crises, the teams have brought smiles on the faces of crores of Indians. We all should be thankful to our boys and girls”, Patnaik stated.

“We in Odisha are elated that our partnership with Hockey India has led to this great achievement for the country. I believe Odisha and hockey are destined to become synonymous. We will continue our partnership with Hockey India. Odisha will support the Indian Hockey teams for 10 more years”, he stated and expressed the optimism that the efforts of Odisha will herald a brand new period of Indian Hockey and convey again glory to the nation.

Patnaik additionally gave away 13 awards.

In the boys’s workforce Harmanpreet Singh received the award for scoring the utmost variety of targets, whereas P R Sreejesh received the one for saving the utmost variety of targets.

Nilakanta Sharma received the award for being the participant with most variety of aim assists and Rupinder Pal Singh for optimum variety of defensive tackles.

Harmanpreet Singh and Amit Rohidas collectively received the award for optimum interceptions within the midfield.

In the ladies’s workforce, Gurjit Kaur and Vandana Katariya received the award for scoring the utmost variety of targets, Savita Punia received the utmost variety of targets saved award.

Rani Rampal and Navneet Kaur collectively received the award for participant with most variety of aim assists.

Deep Grace Ekka and P Sushila Charu received awards for being gamers with most variety of defensive tackles and for optimum interceptions within the midfield respectively.

Each of them had been awarded Rs 5 lakh, an official assertion stated.

President of Indian Olympic Association, Narinder Dhruv Batra who has performed a key position within the growth of Olympic sports activities and sportspersons and within the revival of hockey in India was additionally felicitated by Patnaik.

The chief minister additionally felicitated Col (Dr) Bibhu Kalyan Nayak, who was appointed as the primary Indian FIH Medical Officer for Tokyo Olympics and awarded him Rs 5 lakh on the ceremony.

Patnaik felicitated Hockey India president Gyanendro Ningombam, its secretary common, Rajinder Singh, CEO, Elena Norman and the whole Hockey India workers and awarded Rs.50 lakh to the Federation.

Batra stated with Odisha’s continued help the Indian hockey groups will look to construct on the achievements of Tokyo Olympics to take the sport to its excessive ranges of the previous.

Ningombam stated, “This is indeed a jubilant time for Indian hockey with both our men and women’s hockey teams achieving historic results at the Tokyo Olympics. In 2009, when Hockey India was formed, the primary aim of the Indian Hockey Federation was to bring back the glorious days for the game in the country,” he stated.

“This aim could not have been attained but for the unconditional support of Odisha government under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik ji who is himself a passionate lover of the sport,” he stated.

Rani too thanked the Odisha authorities for its help and stated its individuals had been just like the gamers’ relations.

Manpreet Singh stated “The Olympic bronze has been won by us as players, but in truth it belongs to India. It is a gift from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaikji whose vision and constant encouragement helped us achieve our dream of winning an Olympic medal after 41 years.”

“He (Patnaik) is a pillar of support for each one of us and this dream would not have been possible to achieve without his guidance and continued support,” he stated.

Earlier within the day the hockey groups arrived to a rousing welcome on the airport by followers and sports activities individuals alike.