HIGHLIGHTS

• Lakra and Ekka presented Patnaik the Indian men’s and women’s team jerseys respectively
• Lakra and Rohidas were awarded Rs 2.5 crores each following the national men team’s historic bronze medal win
• Ekka and Toppo were handed Rs 50 lakhs each after the women’s side reached the semifinal stage

Odisha’s hockey players who were part of the Indian men’s and women’s teams at the Tokyo Olympics were felicitated by state chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday.

While Birendra Lakra and Amit Rohidas were awarded Rs 2.5 crores each following the national men team’s historic bronze-medal winning feat in Tokyo, Deep Grace Ekka and Namita Toppo were handed Rs 50 lakhs each after the women’s side reached the semifinal stage for the first time in Olympics.

Patnaik also handed Lakra and Rohidas offer letters for appointment as Deputy Superintendent of Police in the State Police department during the felicitation program at the Kalinga Stadium here.

The chief minister praised both teams for their performances at the Olympics. Lakra and Ekka presented Patnaik the Indian men’s and women’s team jerseys respectively with the signatures of all team members.

The Indian men’s team won bronze with a 5-4 win over four-time champions Germany. It was India’s first Olympic medal in hockey in 41 years. The women’s team reached the knockouts for the first time in their history and stunned gold meda favourites Australia to reach the semi-finals. They lost to Argentina after which they lost to Great Britain in the bronze medal match. The team finished fourth, matching their best-ever finish at an Olympics.