BHUBANESWAR: Voicing jubilation over the stupendous achievement of the Indian hockey team in winning back-to-back medals at Olympics, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced cash rewards for the players and support staff for clinching the bronze medal in Paris by defeating Spain on Thursday.
Congratulating Amit Rohidas, the only player from Odisha in the national team, the chief minister announced a special cash award of Rs 4 crore for him. He also announced a cash award of Rs 15 lakh for each player and Rs 10 lakh each for the support staff for their stellar performance.
Majhi spoke to the skipper Harmanpreet Singh and Rohidas over phone and congratulated them for the victory. He conveyed his best wishes to coach Craig Fulton, all other players and support staff for bringing laurels to the country and invited all the team members to visit Odisha.
Talking to mediapersons at Lok Seba Bhawan, the chief minister said, “I extended my heartiest congratulations to the victorious Indian hockey team. The bronze medal is the outcome of our unwavering support for the game over the years.”
“The entire state feels proud for this stupendous success. In Odisha, hockey holds a special place in the hearts. This success of the Indian team will continue to inspire the sportspersons and sports lovers of the state and the country as well. I have invited the entire team to Odisha,” he added.
Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik also congratulated the Indian Hockey Team on winning consecutive bronze medals in the Olympics after so many decades. “Indeed a historic and very very special moment for India. The Indian team’s historic medal at Paris Olympics 2024 has swelled every Indian’s heart in pride. It is also a deeply emotional moment for me personally. May this bring back the halcyon days for hockey, bringing more and more laurels for the country,” he posted on X.
Patnaik also spoke to victorious team members and praised them on etching their name in history. “Everyone in Odisha and people across India are proud of this historic feat,” he said.
Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan also congratulated the team. “Kudos to the Indian men’s hockey team for winning bronze at Paris 2024. With a second consecutive medal at the Olympic Games, our players have refreshed the world with the glorious legacy of Indian hockey. I join the nation in cherishing and rejoicing this feat”, he wrote on X.
The success of Indian hockey is an outcome of the steadfast support by the Odisha government. The government under former chief minister Naveen Patnaik had been a key promoter of Indian hockey and been sponsoring the national men’s and women’s teams since 2018.
The Naveen Patnaik government had last year committed Rs 434.12 crore to support Hockey India till 2033. Continuing the state’s support, Majhi, immediately after assuming office as the new chief minister in June this year, had extended the sponsorship of national hockey team by another three years till 2036.