Synopsis
Hockey India celebrated its annual awards ceremony, recognising Savita Punia and Harmanpreet Singh as Players of the Year, while also honouring the 1975 World Cup-winning team with the Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award.Key Takeaways
- Savita Punia and Harmanpreet Singh crowned Players of the Year.
- 1975 World Cup-winning team honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award.
- A total prize pool of INR 12 crore awarded at the ceremony.
- Special recognition for India's bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.
- Innovative grassroots initiatives in hockey celebrated.
New Delhi, March 15 (NationPress) Women’s team goalkeeper Savita Punia and men’s team captain Harmanpreet Singh were named the Players of the Year during the annual awards ceremony hosted by Hockey India. The event also celebrated the 1975 World Cup-winning team with the Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award.
The 7th Annual Hockey India Awards 2024 gathered the Indian hockey community in New Delhi, acknowledging the contributions of various hockey stars, officials, and legends who have brought immense pride to the nation.
This year’s awards were particularly significant as they marked 100 years of Indian hockey and the 50th anniversary of India’s 1975 World Cup victory. To honour this milestone, Hockey India presented the Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award and a cash prize of INR 50 lakh to the members of the victorious squad.
The evening was memorable, featuring a total prize pool of INR 12 crore, the largest in the history of Hockey India Awards.
Among the high points of the evening, Savita and Harmanpreet Singh received the Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year 2024 in the Women’s and Men’s categories, respectively.
The ceremony commenced by recognising India’s bronze medal achievement at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Each member of the Indian men’s hockey team was awarded a scarf and INR 15 lakh, while alternate players received INR 5 lakh each, and support staff were granted INR 7.5 lakh for their contributions.
In another category, eight states were honoured for their crucial roles in promoting hockey and their achievements at the 14th Hockey India National Championships 2024. Hockey Haryana, Hockey Jharkhand, Hockey Association of Odisha, Hockey Madhya Pradesh, Hockey Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh Hockey, and Hockey Punjab each received a cheque of INR 10 lakh.
The Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu was recognised as the Best Member Unit of the Year 2024 for its revolutionary efforts in grassroots hockey through the Tamil Nadu School Hockey League, India’s first statewide school hockey league.
The Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams were awarded INR 2.28 crore and INR 1.41 crore, respectively, as incentives for every international match won.
In individual accolades, Harmanpreet Singh earned INR 10 lakh for being named the FIH Men's Player of the Year 2024, plus INR 1 lakh for a stellar performance at the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024.
PR Sreejesh was awarded INR 5 lakh for being the FIH Men's Goalkeeper of the Year 2024, while Deepika and Araijeet Singh Hundal also received recognition for their outstanding performances.
The Milestone Awards 2024 acknowledged remarkable achievements in international hockey, with several players receiving awards for reaching significant caps in their careers.
The teams that claimed titles at the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024 and the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024 were rewarded with INR 3 lakh per player.
The Hockey India President Awards were also presented to deserving individuals and entities for their contributions to the sport.
During the ceremony, Savita was honoured with the Hockey India Baljit Singh Award for Goalkeeper of the Year 2024, marking her third consecutive title. Amit Rohidas and Hardik Singh also received awards for their exceptional performances.
In a significant moment, the 1975 World Cup-winning team was awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award 2024, with INR 50 lakh presented to them.
Among the legendary players present were Leslie Fernandez and Ashok Kumar, who accepted the award on behalf of the team captain, Ajit Pal Singh.
In their speeches, Savita expressed gratitude for her award, while Harmanpreet Singh highlighted the importance of these accolades for inspiring young players.
