Bhubaneswar: Indian women and men hockey teams will arrive at Biju Patnaik Internation Airport in Odisha capital around 11 am on Tuesday.
Both the teams created history in the recent Tokyo Olympics.
The men’s squad won an Olympic medal after 41 years, defeating a plucky Germany 5-4 to win the bronze in an edge-of-the-seat play-off match on August 5. It was for the first time that the women’s team made it to the semi-final in the Olympics. They lost the bronze medal match 3-4 to Great Britain but won respect and plenty of hearts with their courageous display in the game.
According to sources, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will meet the players in the evening.
While speaking to the men’s team after their win in the semi-final, Naveen had said that Odisha is looking forward to receiving the Indian Olympics hockey team in Bhubaneswar.
The team will be put at Sandy Towers in Bhubaneswar.
The hotel has prepared a special menu for the players to celebrate the occasion. “There will be 20 to 25 dishes. We have prepared two to three varieties in mutton, which is a favourite among the players,” the chef told a local news channel.
The owner said the hotel has hosted the teams earlier and is aware of their likes and dislikes. “This time, it is a special occasion and we are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that they have the best stay here,” she added.
On August 10, Sports & Youth Services Minister Tusharkanti Behera and officials, including Sports Secretary R Vineel Krishna and Odisha Hockey Promotion Council chairman Dilip Tirkey had received hockey players from Odisha — Deep Grace Ekka and Namita Toppo (both women’s team), Birendra Lakra and Amit Rohidas (men’s team) — at the Biju Patnaik International Airport.
The CM felicitated four hockey players at the Kalinga Stadium here the following day.
He handed over Rs 2.5 crore each to Birendra and Amit, who were a part of the bronze medal-winning men’s hockey team, and offer letters for appointment as DSP in the State Police department.
Naveen conferred Deep and Namita with a cash prize of Rs 50 lakh each.
