Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi felicitated the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams for their historic gold medal triumph at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan and announced a combined cash reward of Rs 5.61 crore for the players and support staff.
The two teams also secured qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics with their gold medal-winning performances. Each player has been awarded Rs 11 lakh, while every member of the support staff will receive Rs 5.5 lakh, the Odisha government said.
At a felicitation ceremony held at Kalinga Stadium Friday night, Majhi described the gold medal-winning players as true icons of the country’s youth and said their achievements had brought pride and glory to the nation.
The state government also announced a special reward of Rs 20 lakh each for three Odisha-born players – Amit Rohidas, Shilanand Lakra and Sunelita Toppo – in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the Indian teams.
According to the government, the men’s hockey team and its support staff will receive Rs 2.75 crore, while the women’s team will be awarded Rs 2.86 crore.
Congratulating the players, coaches and support staff, Majhi said the women’s team’s gold medal victory after a gap of 44 years would serve as a source of inspiration for women across the country.
He particularly praised the contributions of Rohidas and Lakra from Sundargarh district, along with Sunelita Toppo, saying their talent, determination and hard work had brought laurels to the country.
He reiterated the state government’s commitment to continuing its role as the official sponsor of the Indian national hockey teams.
Majhi also expressed hope that Odisha would host hockey events during the proposed 2036 Olympic Games in India, coinciding with the centenary of the formation of the separate Odisha province.
Praising the leadership of women’s team captain Salima Tete and men’s team captain Harmanpreet Singh, he said Tete had set an example of modern and effective captaincy, while Harmanpreet’s determination had helped the men’s team secure its second consecutive Asian Games gold medal.
The Chief Minister also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inviting Asian Games medal winners to his residence and encouraging them. He said the Khelo India initiative had emerged as an important platform for identifying and promoting young sporting talent from across the country.
Highlighting Odisha’s sports infrastructure development, Majhi said the state was expanding sports facilities beyond Bhubaneswar, with investments of more than Rs 4,000 crore in stadium construction at the block level.
He said the proposed Global Sports Complex at Gothapatna, to be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 1,000 crore, and the 2028 World Athletics Indoor Championships scheduled to be held at Kalinga Stadium would strengthen Odisha’s position as a major international sporting hub.
Sports and Youth Services Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said hockey was not merely a sport in Odisha but an expression of the state’s passion and identity.
He said the Asian Games triumphs of the Indian men’s and women’s teams had enhanced the country’s and Odisha’s standing internationally. The performances of Rohidas, Lakra and Toppo, he added, would inspire thousands of young sportspersons in rural Odisha to pursue their dreams and excel at the international level.
Hockey India president and former Rajya Sabha member Dilip Tirkey, Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Sports and Youth Services Commissioner-cum-Secretary Bhupendra Singh Poonia and departmental director Yedulla Vijay were among those present at the felicitation ceremony.
