How Did CM Nitish Kumar Honor the Indian Men’s Hockey Team?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Bihar CM Nitish Kumar honored the Indian men’s hockey team.
- Each player received Rs 10 lakh as a cash reward.
- The event celebrated India’s win over South Korea.
- A documentary on the tournament was screened.
- Support for sports is growing in Bihar.
Patna, Sep 19 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, honored the triumphant Indian men’s hockey team on Friday for winning the Hero Asia Cup 2025 in Rajgir. The ceremony took place at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Patna, where cash prizes and citations were awarded.
Each player, along with the head coach and assistant coach, received a cash award of Rs 10 lakh, while the support staff members were given Rs 5 lakh each, complemented by a citation.
The Chief Minister presented a symbolic cheque of Rs 2.5 crore to team captain Harmanpreet Singh for the distribution among the 20 players and 10 support staff.
In his address, Nitish Kumar congratulated the team for their outstanding performance, stating that their victory has instilled great pride in both the nation and the state of Bihar.
He expressed his hopes for a bright future for the athletes and took a group photograph with the team and officials.
The Men’s Hockey Asia Cup 2025 was held at the State Sports Academy-cum-Bihar Sports University in Rajgir from August 29 to September 7, culminating in India’s win over South Korea in the final.
Eight prominent Asian hockey nations participated in the tournament, including China, Japan, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Chinese Taipei, Bangladesh, and the finalists, India and South Korea.
Following India’s victory, the Chief Minister quickly announced the cash rewards for the players and support staff.
Earlier this year, he had also honored the Indian women’s hockey team for their Asia Cup success in Rajgir.
During the event, Hockey India General Secretary Bhola Nath Singh presented a memento to the Chief Minister.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh expressed his gratitude, stating, “I thank Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for this honor. We have felt the passion for hockey among the people of Bihar. Under your leadership, Bihar has undergone significant change, and this love for sports is being recognized everywhere.”
A documentary showcasing the successful organization of the Hero Asia Cup 2025 was also screened during the ceremony.
The event was attended by Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, along with other senior government officials.