Heroes’ Welcome Awaits Olympic Medalist Indian Men’s Hockey Team In Odisha Tomorrow

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Majhi will felicitate Indian Hockey team, which won a bronze at the recently concluded Paris Olympics 2024, at Lok Seva Bhavan’s convention centre in Odisha capital on Wednesday. 

Addressing a presser, Sports Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said that a grand welcome is being planned for the Olympics heroes. “The team will arrive in Odisha tomorrow and hold a roadshow from Biju Patnaik International Airport to Kalinga Stadium. Thereafter, the team will be felicitated by the CM,” he said.

He said that the hockey team has made India proud by winning the second consecutive Olympic medal and added that the victory has inspired millions of young athletes.

The Indian men’s hockey team came from a goal down to beat Spain 2-1 and win the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics and gave a befitting farewell to veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who was playing his last International match.

The Minister further said that Odisha has been working for development of sports and hockey and all-round development of sportsmen and this journey will continue.

Odisha has played a crucial role in the resurgence of Indian hockey since stepping in as the official sponsor of the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams in 2018 when the sport struggled financially following Sahara’s exit as the primary sponsor. The Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government committed a significant investment in hockey with a deal worth Rs 120 crore that was later extended by another ten years, ensuring continued support until 2033. The sponsorship was further extended to 2036 by the Mohan Majhi government, which took charge in June, underlining the state’s long-term commitment to the sport.