Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday announced financial rewards for the Indian women’s hockey team following their historic gold medal triumph at the 2026 Asian Games. Under the state government’s incentive package, each player on the squad will receive 11 lakh rupees, while members of the support staff will be awarded 5.5 lakh rupees each in honour of their continental achievement.
The historic victory ended a 44-year title drought for the Indian side, whose previous Asian Games gold in women’s hockey came at the 1982 New Delhi Games. By defeating reigning champions and Olympic silver medallists China 1-0 in Friday’s tense final, India also officially sealed their qualification berth for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
In an official statement shared by the Chief Minister’s Office, Majhi praised the squad for their determination, composure, and collective effort, noting that the historic victory brought enormous pride to the entire nation. Odisha Sports Department Secretary Bhupendra Singh Poonia clarified that these state incentives are independent of and supplementary to the financial prizes previously declared by Hockey India.
Odisha has long served as the primary patron of the sport, having become the first state in the country to sponsor both senior and junior national hockey setups back in 2018. The state administration has formally committed to extending its primary sponsorship of Indian men’s and women’s teams through 2036, continuing to invest heavily in modern training infrastructure, international tournaments, and grassroots hockey development.
