RANCHI: Indian women’s hockey team captain Salima Tete, along with fellow Jharkhand players Nikki Pradhan, Beauty Dungdung and Deepika Soreng, received a grand welcome upon their arrival at Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi on Sunday following the team’s historic gold-medal triumph at the 2026 Asian Games. Later, the players met Chief Minister Hemant Soren at his residence.
Soren congratulated the team on its achievement and enquired about the players’ preparations and experiences during their Asian Games campaign. He also extended his best wishes to the players for their achievement.
“The golden success achieved by the daughters of Jharkhand is a matter of pride and honour for both the country and the state,” said Soren.
The Chief Minister said the contribution of Jharkhand’s players to India’s Asian Games gold was a source of pride for the state and the country. He said their talent, hard work, discipline and determination had enhanced India’s prestige and added another glorious chapter to Jharkhand’s sporting history.
Soren said the achievement would inspire young people, athletes and particularly girls in Jharkhand and across the country to pursue excellence in sports. He encouraged the players to continue bringing laurels to the nation with the same enthusiasm, dedication, hard work and commitment.
The Chief Minister also said the state government was actively working to nurture sporting talent in Jharkhand.
Captain Salima Tete, talking to the media persons after the meeting, said that whenever players return with medals, Chief Minister Hemant Soren meets them and boosts their morale. She mentioned that meeting the Chief Minister feels good and inspires the players to perform even better in the future.
“The team now holds the gold medal and aims to maintain this level of performance in future also. The Indian team has qualified for the Olympics, and the entire squad is overjoyed about it. Beating a strong team like China is a matter of pride,” said Salima Tete. There is still time before the Olympics, offering a good opportunity for the team to further strengthen its preparations, she said.
Recalling the match against China, Salima noted that although they had lost to China in the semi-finals previously, the team was determined to beat them this time. After scoring a goal, the team focused on protecting their lead and ultimately won the match to secure the gold medal, she said.
Deepika Soreng, another young player in the team, described playing alongside senior players as a fantastic experience. She mentioned that she learned a great deal while being with the seniors and received constant motivation from them.
Deepika highlighted the strong rapport between senior and young players, saying the seniors’ support helps the team play cohesively. She said the team’s next goal is to perform well at the Olympics.
Beauty Dungdung also stressed the value of learning from senior players, saying the blend of experience and youthful energy would be crucial in upcoming matches.
Nikki Pradhan said Chief Minister Hemant Soren encouraged the players to perform even better and assured them of the government’s all possible support.