Bhubaneswar: A day after scripting history, the Odisha men’s hockey team returned home to a tumultuous welcome on Sunday.
Having beaten former champions and heavyweight opponents Haryana 5-1 in the final at Chennai’s Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium, the Odisha contingent flew in to Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport where they were received by cheering schoolchildren and officials of the state association.
Drummers played the dhol as the players walked out of the airport terminal with their prized possession.
They gleefully posed for pictures with the trophy for the national hockey championship, which they won for the first time.
DSYS proudly felicitated the Odisha Men’s Hockey Team for their historic victory, showcasing an exceptional performance and bringing glory to the state at the Hockey India Senior Men National Championship.
Congratulations, champions! 🏆#OdishaForHockey pic.twitter.com/Kc9KwCoKhM
— Odisha Sports (@sports_odisha) November 17, 2024
Following the reception at airport, the squad was driven in an Odisha Tourism bus to the Kalinga Stadium complex, where Minister for Sports & Youth Services Suryabanshi Suraj was waiting to receive them.
The minister congratulated the players and support staff for shaping Odisha’s historic triumph.
ମାନ୍ୟବର ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ, କ୍ରୀଡ଼ା ଓ ଯୁବ ସେବା ବିଭାଗ, ଶ୍ରୀ @suryabanshibjp, ସଚିବ, ଶ୍ରୀ @Bhaskar__Sarma ଏବଂ ଅନ୍ୟ ବରିଷ୍ଠ ଅଧିକାରୀମାନେ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଖେଳାଳି, ପ୍ରଶିକ୍ଷକ ଏବଂ ସହକାରୀ କର୍ମଚାରୀମାନଙ୍କୁ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ ଜଣାଇଥିଲେ। ଏହିପରି ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶନ ଜାରି ରଖି ଭବିଷ୍ୟତରେ ରାଜ୍ୟ ପାଇଁ ଅନେକ ସୁନାମ ଆଣିବା ପାଇଁ ଉତ୍ସାହିତ ମଧ୍ୟ… pic.twitter.com/a9Up1srrNl
— Odisha Sports (@sports_odisha) November 17, 2024
Department of Sports and Youth Services secretary Bhaskar Sarma felicitated the players and support staff who were taken around at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium.
— Odisha Sports (@sports_odisha) November 17, 2024