Hockey heroes given rising welcome in Odisha; CM Majhi praises fighting spirit of players
Odisha is official sponsor of Hockey India till 2036
Hockey India will get better goalkeepers to defend county, says Sreejesh
By Subrat Sarangi
Bhubaneswar, Aug. 21: The Olympics bronze-winning Indian Hockey team was on Wednesday given a rousing felicitation here at the state secretariat — Lokseva Bhawan, for their outstanding performances in the Paris Olympics 2024.
Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, while felicitating the entire team for winning the bronze medal, appreciated the fighting spirit of each of the players on the ground in every encounter during the Olympics edition.
“We will take new steps for the development of hockey to see that our team wins more medals at international platforms. The success of the Indian hockey team in Paris will further inspire our budding players to prove their worth at the international arena,” said CM Majhi.
On their arrival at Biju Patnaik International Airport here, the medal-winning team was given a rousing welcome by the state government and sports enthusiasts. Later, they were taken in procession from the airport to Kalinga Stadium where the Indian team plays many practice matches and tournaments, including the World Cups, matches every year.
At the Kalinga Stadium, the CM Mohan Charan Majhi interacted with each players and felicitated them.
Hockey India secretary general Bholanath Singh and president Dilip Tirkey
The Odisha government is the official sponsor of Hockey India till 2036.
Star Odia defender Amit Rohidas, who was also with the Indian team, appreciated the Odisha government’s continuous support to Hockey India.
Amit played a crucial role in helping the Indian team finish third in the world event. He has won back-to-back two bronze medals at the Olympics.
Notably, the Indian team clinched the bronze medal after finishing third in the Olympic Games by beating Spain 2-1 in the third-position match.
Following India’s third-place finish, Odisha CM Majhi had announced a special cash award of Rs 4 crore for Rohidas. Majhi had also announced Rs 15 lakh each for all the players of the Indian team and Rs 10 lakh each for all the support staff.
