As per directives of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, `2 lakh honorarium each will be given to members of Junior Women’s hockey team who won bronze medal in Junior Women’s Hockey World Cup.
Besides, player of State Hockey Academy lily Chanu will be given additional `2 lakh as departmental motivation amount.
Academy’s coach Shri Paramjit Singh will also be given `2 lakh. The honorarium will be paid to all players at Sports Award Ceremony on August 29, 2013 at Bhopal.
It is noteworthy that creating history, the Indian Junior Women’s Hockey team won bronze medal for the first time in Junior Women’s Hockey World Cup in Germany on August 4, 2013.
Apart from State Hockey Academy’s existing player lily Chanu, former members Sushila Chanu, Pinki Devi, Sanrik Chanu, Poonam Rani, Monica and Vandana Katariya and Ritu Shah were in the bronze medal winning team. Thus, eight players of Madhya Pradesh Sports Academy were members of this team.
Notably, Chief Minister Chouhan has taken significant decisions to promote hockey in the state. A sum of `50 lakh was given to runners-up Indian team in Asia Cup in year 2009-10, `23 lakh at the rate of `1 lakh each to Indian women’s hockey team which also emerged as runners-up in Asia Cup in 2009-10 and the women hockey players were once again provided `1 crore financial assistance during the same year.
Synthetic hockey turf has been laid and floodlights at Aishbagh Stadium Bhopal for the benefit of state’s hockey players, synthetic hockey turf and floodlights at State Women Hockey Academy Gwalior, hostel at State Men’s Hockey Academy and synthetic hockey turf has been laid at Mayur Park Bhopal.
Besides, there is a plan to lay 15 hockey astroturfs in selected districts during next five years.