Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced Saturday cash awards of rupees one crore each for the four Odiya hockey players in the Indian women’s team who clinched the silver medal at the ongoing Asian Games in Jakarta. They are Sunita Lakra, Namita Toppo, Lilima Minz and Deep Grace Ekka. As per the revised sports policy, the coaches of the players will get awards equivalent to 20 per cent of the amount given to the players.
CM took to social media platform Twitter to congratulate Indian women’s hockey team on their achievement at Asian Games. India went down in the final 1-2 to Japan and thereby missed out on directly qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“Well played, Team India! Congratulate our Women’s Hockey Team on ending their #AsianGames2018 campaign with a Silver, 20 years after India played the last #Asian Games final. Proud of what you have all achieved and best wishes for future,” CM wrote on his Twitter handle.
Earlier Saturday, Patnaik had felicitated sprinter Dutee Chand who won silver medals in the 100m and the 200m events at the Jakarta Asiad.