The Indian women’s hockey team won fourth place at the Olympic games after losing to Great Britain. Despite returning home empty-handed, the team’s effort has surely brought the limelight back to hockey; a sport that was often overshadowed by Cricket. The Madhya Pradesh chief minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday awarded the Indian women’s hockey team with a cash prize of 31 lakhs at the ceremony held at Minto Hall. He even invited the entire team to dinner at his place. Apart from the cash prize, each member of the team and the assistant coach, Tushar Khandekar was presented with Sanchi Stupa.
Chouhan praised the team for putting on an excellent performance at the marquee event. He is confident that they are going to make the nation proud in the next edition of the Games.
“The Indian women’s hockey team has given an outstanding performance in the Tokyo Olympics. These young women won the hearts of the people of the country. In the next Olympics, they will win the gold medal.“
The captain of the Indian women’s hockey team, Rani Rampal, expressed her gratefulness to the chief minister and the fans for supporting the team. She hopes that this will encourage the women in the country to take up sports.
“Your love and affection and encouragement towards women players is a message to the rest of the States that we should encourage women to play sports in the country.”
Chouhan announces construction of world-class hockey stadium
Apart from the felicitation, the Chouhan also intends to construct a hockey stadium at the Gwalior or Bhopal. Apparently, he talked with his Minister for Sports and cabinet colleague Yashodhara Raje Scindia.
“Yashodharaji, take a decision about whatever you want for the betterment of hockey. Take a decision for the construction of a stadium in Bhopal or Gwalior. We will construct a world-class hockey stadium in the state.”
Since Bhopal has produced some of the best hockey players in the country, the state promises to do its best to support the players and the sport.
Savji Dholakia had previously awarded 2.5 lakhs to each member of the Indian women’s hockey team.
