Odisha honours Asian Games gold medallists at Kalinga Stadium; ₹5.61 crore in rewards announced for Indian men’s and women’s teams

 

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, OCTOBER 16, 2026

The Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams, which clinched historic gold medals at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan and secured qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, were accorded a grand felicitation at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Friday. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi hailed the gold medallists as “true icons of our youth”, describing them as role models for the younger generation and a source of pride and glory for the country.

Attending the ceremony as the chief guest, Majhi congratulated the players, coaches and support staff of both teams for their remarkable achievement and presented them with cash rewards in recognition of their contribution to Indian hockey. The Odisha government announced a total reward of ₹5.61 crore for the two teams and their support personnel.

Under the reward scheme, every player in the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams was awarded ₹11 lakh, while each member of the support staff received ₹5.50 lakh.

The men’s team and its support staff were collectively awarded ₹2.75 crore, while ₹2.86 crore was allocated to the women’s team and its support personnel. The combined reward announced by the Odisha government for the two teams amounted to ₹5.61 crore.

In special recognition of their outstanding contributions, Odisha-born Indian hockey players Amit Rohidas, Shilanand Lakra and Sunelita Toppo were each awarded an additional ₹20 lakh.

Congratulating the players, CM Majhi said the achievements of the two teams had demonstrated the power of dedication, perseverance and teamwork. Their success, he said, would inspire young people across the country to pursue excellence in sport and other fields.

 “The players of both the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams, who won gold medals at the Asian Games, are true icons of our youth. They are role models for the entire younger generation and the pride and glory of India,” the Chief Minister said.

He particularly highlighted the significance of the women’s team’s triumph, describing its gold medal victory after a gap of 44 years as a lasting source of inspiration for women across the country.

The Chief Minister praised Amit Rohidas, Shilanand Lakra and Sunelita Toppo, all associated with Sundargarh district, for bringing honour to Odisha and the country through their exceptional talent and hard work.

Quoting the celebrated Odia poet Sachidananda Routray, Majhi observed that the land which gives birth to gifted individuals inevitably earns recognition on the world stage. He said the achievements of the three players reflected the sporting talent nurtured in Odisha and underscored the State’s contribution to Indian hockey.

The Chief Minister also commended the leadership of Salima Tete and Harmanpreet Singh, the captains of the women’s and men’s teams, respectively.

He described Tete’s leadership as an outstanding example of intelligent and modern captaincy, noting that she had strengthened her team through her approach to leadership. He also praised Harmanpreet Singh for his determination in guiding the men’s team to a second consecutive Asian Games gold medal.

The Chief Minister said the performances of the captains and their teammates demonstrated the importance of discipline, collective effort and strong leadership in achieving sporting success.

Majhi also acknowledged the role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in encouraging India’s sporting community. He said the Prime Minister had invited Asian Games medallists to his residence to congratulate them and boost their morale.

The Chief Minister described the Khelo India initiative as an important platform for identifying and promoting young sporting talent from every corner of the country. Such initiatives, he said, were helping aspiring athletes gain recognition and opportunities to compete at higher levels.

He reiterated that the Odisha government would continue its commitment as the official sponsor of the Indian national hockey teams.

Looking ahead, Majhi referred to the proposal to host the 2036 Olympic Games in India. He expressed hope that, if the proposal materialised, hockey events would be held in Odisha in the centenary year of the formation of the separate State of Odisha in 2036.

Such an opportunity, he said, would further strengthen Odisha’s standing as a major destination for international hockey and reinforce its contribution to the development of Indian sport.

The Chief Minister said Odisha’s efforts to develop a strong sporting ecosystem were not confined to Bhubaneswar. The State government was investing more than ₹4,000 crore in the construction of stadiums and sports infrastructure at the block level, with the objective of extending sporting opportunities to a wider population.

He also highlighted the proposed Global Sports Complex at Gothapatna, which is expected to be developed at an estimated cost of ₹1,000 crore.

In addition, the 2028 World Indoor Athletics Championships, scheduled to be held at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, would further enhance Odisha’s international sporting profile, he said.

Majhi expressed confidence that these infrastructure projects and international events would help transform Odisha into a prominent global sporting hub, while creating greater opportunities for young athletes to train, compete and excel.

Sports and Youth Services Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said hockey in Odisha was much more than a game, describing it as an emotion and a symbol of the State’s identity.

He said the gold medal victories of the Indian men’s and women’s teams at the Asian Games had brought immense pride to the country and Odisha, enhancing the State’s reputation on the international stage.

Suraj particularly praised the performances of Amit Rohidas, Shilanand Lakra and Sunelita Toppo, describing them as outstanding representatives of Odisha’s sporting talent.

Their achievements, he said, would inspire thousands of young sportspersons in the State’s rural areas to dream big, work hard and aspire to establish themselves on the international stage.

He added that the success of players from Odisha’s rural heartland demonstrated the potential of young athletes when their talent was supported by determination, opportunity and an enabling sporting environment.

The felicitation ceremony was attended by Hockey India president and former Rajya Sabha member Dilip Tirkey, Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Sports Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Bhupendra Singh Poonia, Department Director Yedullla Vijay and other officials.