A rousing reception was given to four hockey Olympians at Sundargarh on return to their hometown on Saturday, after their laudable performance in the recently concluded Olympics.
The residents of Sundargarh were seen waiting as they wanted to have a glimpse of the hockey heroes of the district, when they were taken in a procession in Sundargarh town.
Amit Rohidas, Birendra Lakra, Deep Grace Ekka and Namita Tappo, all natives of Sundargarh, who represented India's men and women hockey teams respectively, reached at Sundargarh via Jharsuguda airport on Saturday.
A large crowd turned up at the Jharsuguda airport to welcome the champions. After reaching at Sundargarh, they were given a rousing reception at Shankara by the District Hockey Association and the District Sports Office, from where they were taken in a procession to Sundargarh town, in two open vehicles.
Almost in every square of the town, people in large numbers welcomed the hockey heroes with flowers.
The district administration organised a felicitation programme at Vikash Bhawan of Sundargarh town where in senior administrative officials remained present. Sundargarh Collector Nikhil Pawan Kalyan appreciated the contribution of Sundargarh to Indian hockey as a number of locals of Sundargarh have gone on to represent the national team and Olympics.
"We are extremely happy to come back to our motherland and we are very happy after receiving such a grand welcome," said Birendra Lakra. Former Olympian and India hockey captain Dilip Trikey, who was present, also praised the role of the State Government for taking hockey to a new height.