Patna: In a significant ceremony at Bapu Sabhagar in Patna, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar honored the Indian women’s hockey team for their triumph in the Women’s Asian Hockey Championship Trophy held from November 11 to 20 in Rajgir.
Hosted by the Bihar State Sports Department, the event celebrated the team’s historic 1-0 victory over China, marking a proud moment for both the nation and the state of Bihar.
Each player of the Indian women’s hockey team and the head coach received ₹10 lakh, while the supporting staff members were awarded ₹5 lakh each. The tournament organizer was also recognized and honored. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar personally distributed these awards.
A four-minute short film highlighting the tournament was showcased during the ceremony.
The Chief Minister conveyed his sincere congratulations and encouragement to the players and team management.
Salima Tete, captain of the Indian women’s hockey team, expressed her happiness at meeting the Chief Minister and praised the organization of such a prestigious event in Rajgir for the first time.
“The recognition and rewards from the Bihar government provide a significant morale boost for the players,” Tete remarked.
The Bihar government hosted the Women’s Asian Hockey Championship Trophy at the State Sports Academy and Bihar Sports-University-cum-State Sports Complex in Rajgir. Teams from India, China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand participated in the event.
India’s victory in the final against China was a historic achievement, bringing pride to the country.
The ceremony was attended by numerous distinguished officials, including Bihar Sports Minister Surendra Mehta, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Deepak Kumar, Development Commissioner Pratyaya Amrit, and Hockey India General Secretary Bhola Nath Singh, among others.