Xtra Time Web Desk: Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and Hockey India President Narinder Batra on Wednesday lauded the vision of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s vision for the success of both Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams at the Tokyo Olympics. Manpreet Singh led Indian men’s hockey team did the nation proud by winning bronze after 41 years at Olympics. The women’s team led by Rani Rampal came very close to winning bronze as they lost 3-4 to Great Britain.
In a letter addressed to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha Shri Naveen Patnaik, Narinder Batra said, “When everyone was running after cricket. Hon’ble Sir You, Your Vision and Your Confidence for Hockey has led to the results we see today in revival of Hockey which De Facto is our National Game.”
The Government of Odisha have announced cash award of Rs 2.50crores to each men’s hockey player from the state and also appointed them as DSP’s in Odisha Police. The Odisha Givernment has also announced a cash award of Rs 50 lakhs for the women hockey players from the state.
Meanwhile, the felicitation ceremonies for the Tokyo 2020 medal winning athletes seem to continue for a while with cash awards being announced for the successful medal winners. The athletes of Haryana and Punjab are taking the lion share as far as the medal winners at Tokyo Olympics are concerned. Tokyo 2020 gold medal winner Neeraj Chopra, silver medalist wrestler Ravi Dahiya and bronze medal winner all hails from Haryana. As many as 8 hockey players are from Punjab in the Indian men’s team that won bronze in Tokyo after 41 years. The Government of Punjab has announced a cash award of Rs 2.52 crore to each individual medal winner as well as each and every hockey player of Indian men’s hockey team from the state.
In a letter addressed to Rana Sodhi, the Honourable Sports Minister of Punjab, Narinder Batra acknowledged the gesture by treating the hockey players at PAR with individual athletes. Mr Batra thanked the Government of Punjab for leading by example and setting a new and correct trend by honouring an individual athlete and on same line as each and every hockey player from Punjab.
Mr Batra also thanked the Government of Punjab for recognizing the members of Indian Women’s Hockey Team from Punjab which finished 4th and Kanwalpreet who finished 6th and also honoring the other Olympics. He wrote this gesture will set a new trend, which will help in motivation of athletes and more people coming into sports as their careers and recognition which comes with performance.