Odisha Sports and Youth Services Minister Tusharkanti Behera honored three hockey stars from Odisha for their outstanding performances at the Men’s Junior Asia Cup in Oman, where India became champions for the fifth time in a row. The local heroes, Amandeep Lakra, Sudeep Chirmako, and Sunit Lakra, who are from Sports Hostel Rourkela (Panposh), received a cash award of Rs. 2 lakh each.
Behera congratulated the talented young hockey players and expressed his joy over their victory that served as an inspiration for aspiring hockey players. The Indian contingent remained undefeated throughout the tournament and beat Pakistan in the final. Amandeep and Sunit scored two goals each, proving their outstanding abilities.
Amandeep Lakra expressed his gratitude for their recognition and emphasized their responsibility to strive harder and bring further glory to India and Odisha. The gold medal triumph in the Men’s Junior Asia Cup 2023 not only represents the remarkable abilities of the Indian team ahead of the Men’s Junior World Cup later this year but also showcases Odisha’s role as a key pillar of the Indian hockey ecosystem.
The felicitation ceremony celebrated the hockey heroes’ success, further motivating future generations to aspire to greatness in the sport. The recognition of their achievement will undoubtedly inspire young hockey players in Odisha to aim for excellence.
