Hockey wave rising after Tokyo Olympics: Gyanendro
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 20 2021:
After the historic medal winning performance by men's team and the women s team reached the semi-final for the first time in the just concluded Tokyo Olympic-2020, Hockey India will take up various programmes to develop the game in the country, stated Hockey India president Gyanendro Ningombam.
After attending felicitation ceremonies organised by chief ministers of different states and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as encouragement to both the men's and women's national teams, Gyanendro returned to the state on Friday.
On his arrival at Imphal airport, Gyanendro informed media persons that a new wave of hockey has emerged across the country after the stupendous performance by both the teams in the just concluded Tokyo Olympic-2020.While men's team bagged bronze medal after 41 years, women's team entered semi-final for the first time in the Olympic history and the national federation has decided to take up various programmes to develop the game after this outstanding performance by both the men's and women's national teams, he added.
Odisha government whole heartedly supported both the men's and women's national hockey teams and the credit for the outstanding performance by both the national teams in the just concluded Olympic Games goes to that state, Gyanendro said, adding that the popularity of the game will move forward further with such support from that state.
He also expressed hope that national hockey teams would bring more laurels for the country in international events as Odisha government decided to sponsor both the men's and women's national teams for another ten years.
He said that Odisha chief minister personally encouraged both the national teams by organising felicitation ceremony and even donated Rs 50 lakh to the Federation thereby infusing new spirit to develop the game.
According to Gyanendro, felicitation ceremonies organised by chief ministers of different states and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have instilled new spirit to players.
Regarding development of the game in Manipur, Gyanendro said that the government of India is keen on developing Hockey and giving priority to development of infrastructure for hockey in every district of the state.
The step taken by the government to develop astro-turf in every district of the state indeed is outstanding and this will not only ease hunt for new talents but also help in producing more Olympians from the state, he said, while appealing to all concerned to work collectively towards producing more Olympians from the state.
Pukhrambam Sushila Chanu and Shanglakpam Nilakanta Sharma too returned to the state on Friday along with the Hockey India president and the two Olympians informed media persons at Imphal airport that they were pleased when people accorded them warm reception.
They also thanked President of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief ministers of Odisha and Uttar Pradesh for felicitating entire members of the national hockey teams which represented the country at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.Both of them were elated over learning that YAS department is organising a felicitation ceremony on Saturday and thanked chief minister, YAS minister, hockey fraternity and people of the state for giving encouragement.
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