Bhubaneswar: If P R Sreejesh protects its purpose with his life during a bronze medal winner in India against Germany, there are other people who play a silent role in maintaining hockey interests in the country.
Naveen Patnaik, the head of the Minister of Odisha, a protected hockey when the match needs the most.
Naveen has become a goalkeeper for his Doon school hockey team.
It is the initial love that leads to his support for the game, which sees Odisha sponsoring a team directly from the junior to a senior level, both men and women.
In 2018, when the Sahara resigned, Odisha signed a contract RS 140 Crore with Indian hockey to sponsor men and women for five years.
It was also the Odisha year organizing a men’s Hockey World Cup, which would host again in 2023 in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, where the state government built the largest hockey stadium in India for estimated Rs 120 Crore.
Moments after India’s historic victory, Naveen spoke with several players in Tokyo through a video link.
“Lots of congratulations to our Hockey team.
India is very excited, like Odisha, of course.
We are all behind you and hope the best,” Naveen told them.
While Naveen gets praise for hockey supporters, nothing is more special than the appreciation he gets from the Manpreet Singh captain.
“This is a special moment for all of us.
We finally achieved our dreams to win the Olympic medal.
On this particular occasion, I would like to express our special thanks to the Chairman of the Honorable Odisha Minister, Shri Naveen Patnaik Ji, who has supported us on this trip “Manpreet said.
“While everyone supports cricket, the honorable CM chooses hockey, and today you can see the results.
I want to thank you very much, sir,” said the captain.
Odisha Sports Secretary R Vineel Krishna felt that Naveen’s decision was private and due to his assessment of what hockey meaning for the country.
“Cm plays hockey at school.
That’s how the love for hockey develops.
He has followed the game since then.
But, more than that, CM is transferred by the love of Odisha people for hockey.
This is what he inspired him to promote the game,” Krishna said .