Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday felicitated the Indian Women’s Hockey Team, winners of the Bihar Women’s Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2024, at a grand event in Patna. The ceremony celebrated the achievements of the players, the chief coach, the support staff, and others who contributed to the successful organisation of the international tournament.
The Chief Minister awarded an honorarium of ₹10 lakh each to all players of the winning Indian team and their chief coach, Harendra Singh. The support staff members, including Ms. Bilwa Suresh Ankita, Mr. Adrian D’Souza, Arthur Lucas, Dave Smolenaars, Ms. Rakhi Vinay Darne, Mr. Edison Elias, Ms. Francis Pushpavati, and Mr. Amutha Prakash Perumal, received ₹5 lakh each.
In addition to the team, officials from the Building Construction Department, Information and Public Relations Department, Sports Department, Bihar State Sports Authority, Bihar Police Academy, and district administrations of Nalanda and Gaya were presented with letters of appreciation for their efforts in hosting the event.
The tournament, held for the first time in Bihar, took place in Rajgir from 11 to 20 November 2024. Teams from six nations—India, China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia—competed. India secured the championship title by defeating China in the final match.
During the felicitation, the Chief Minister honoured individual team members, including Captain Salima Tete, Vice-Captain Navneet Kaur, and players Sharmila Devi, Bichu Devi Kharibam, Priya Sirohi, Savita, Sangeeta Kumari, Mumtaz Khan, Udita, Vaishnavi Vithal Phalke, Lalremsiami, Baljeet Kaur, Jyoti, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Sunelita Toppo, Neha, Preeti Dubey, Manisha Chauhan, Ishika Chaudhary, Beauty Dungdung, and Deepika.
A documentary highlighting the successful organisation of the event was screened during the ceremony. The Chief Minister was welcomed with a shawl by Dr. B. Rajender, Principal Secretary of the General Administration and Sports Department, while Hockey India Secretary General Mr. Bhola Nath Singh presented a memento.
Prominent attendees included Sports Minister Surendra Mehta, Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr. Deepak Kumar, Development Commissioner Mr. Pratyaya Amrit, and other senior officials, alongside the Indian Women’s Hockey Team and their support staff.
The event underscored Bihar’s emergence as a host for international sporting events and highlighted the state government’s commitment to promoting sports and honouring excellence.
