Bhopal : Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that Madhya Pradesh will leave no stone unturned in the development of sports. All necessary facilities will continue to be given to players of the state. The Indian women’s hockey players have brought glory to India. We are all proud of them. If there is will, the heights of success can be achieved. India’s women’s hockey team has proved the same this time with their best performance in Tokyo Olympics. A world class hockey stadium will be constructed in the state which will benefit both sportspersons and sports enthusiasts. Not only this, in-principle approval has been obtained by the central government to organize the 2022 Khelo India Games in Bhopal. We are also getting ready to organize the National Games. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan was addressing the felicitation ceremony of the Indian women’s hockey team at Minto Hall auditorium today.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan honored the players of the team with Rs 31 lakh each as honorarium, memento, citation, shriphal and angavastra. Special guest on the occasion was Dr. Narinder Dhruv Batra, President of the Indian Olympic Association. Minister of Sports and Youth Welfare, Smt. Yashodhara Raje Scindia presided over the programme. Shri Rajinder Singh, General Secretary Hockey India and CEO Hockey India Sushri Elina Norman were also present.
Maximum facilities and opportunities for players
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that continuous work is being done for the promotion of sportspersons in Madhya Pradesh. Male and female sportspersons are being given more and more opportunities to progress for which necessary facilities have been mobilized. The initiative to remove financial problems of women hockey players took place in the year 2010 from Madhya Pradesh. After this, the Hockey Academy was strengthened. Today it is one of the best hockey academies in the country. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan also told about the background of Madhya Pradesh government’s decision to honor the Indian women’s hockey team. He said that despite having played so well in the semi-final match of the Olympics, when the women hockey players could not win, I could clearly see tears in their eyes, at that time I had resolved to honor the members of the team in Bhopal. Prior to this, talented player of Indian men’s hockey team Shri Vivek Sagar was also honored by giving him an honorarium of Rs. one crore, apart from appointment to the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police and house. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that once Bhopal was called the nursery of hockey. The country has got many players from here. But for some years we were not able to perform well. The Tokyo Olympics has revived hockey once again. Madhya Pradesh has not only removed the tag of BIMARU state in the field of economic and development, but in the field of sports also Madhya Pradesh is no less.
No discrimination against daughters
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that Indian society should take pride in the role of daughters. Certainly, daughters are not far behind sons in terms of talent. Reservation percentage of women in Panchayat Raj Institutions and Police has been increased in Madhya Pradesh. The state government has resolved to ensure that there is no discrimination against daughters and women in Madhya Pradesh. When half of our population progresses, surely the country will also progress. Madhya Pradesh started Ladli Laxmi Yojana for the prosperity of daughters.
CM praises women hockey players
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that the captain of India’s women’s hockey team, Rani Rampal hails from a very ordinary family. She played with a broken hockey stick and developed her skills. Vice-Captain Savita also struggled hard and improved her game. Monica’s father wanted her to pursue wrestling. Gurjit Kaur and Nikki Pradhan belong to ordinary farmer families. Salima lived in a Naxal-hit village. She played with bamboo splints and became a member of the Indian team. Vandana and Sushila took coaching in Gwalior. Vandana plays in forward position and Sushila plays at mid fielder position. Similarly, Neha and Udita have come from Haryana on the position of mid fielder and defender.
CM Shri Chouhan has given full support and cooperation to sports: Smt. Scindia
Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Smt. Yashodhara Raje Scindia said that today it is a special occasion when the entire Indian women’s hockey team, including five women hockey players trained in the Women’s Hockey Academy of Madhya Pradesh have been honoured. The support and cooperation that Chief Minister Shri Chouhan has given to sports and sportspersons is remarkable. We saw all the matches that took place in the Tokyo Olympics. I was sure that we would win some or the other medal. This did not happen. Despite this, the Indian women’s hockey team won the hearts of everyone with best performance even after being ranked fourth. Women’s hockey has been encouraged in Madhya Pradesh. Competitions are frequent, 29 feeder centers have been developed. 11 astro turfs were made in the state, including 4 new ones, thus increasing their number to 15. Madhya Pradesh Women’s Hockey Academy has proved to be one of the best hockey academies. 15 feeder centers have been set up for State Sports Malkhamb. The game is being well promoted. Soon a national level competition is going to be held in Ujjain.
Captain of Indian Women’s Hockey Team, Sushri Rani Rampal said that Chief Minister Shri Chouhan has given a message to all the states by honoring the players of the team. The example set by him of encouraging daughters is exemplary. The setup made by Chief Minister Shri Chouhan for the promotion of hockey in Madhya Pradesh is commendable. This assistance will go a long way in encouraging hockey players.
Indian Olympic Association President Dr. Narinder Dhruv Batra said that Chief Minister Shri Chouhan has done a significant job by creating a conducive environment for sports in Madhya Pradesh by starting various sports academies. The contribution of Gwalior Women’s Hockey Academy is significant in enhancing the pride of the women’s hockey team. The efforts of the Madhya Pradesh government are praiseworthy. Shri Batra said that Madhya Pradesh also has the capacity to organize important sports events.
Principal Secretary Sports and Youth Welfare Shri Gulsham Bamra, officials of various sports organizations of Bhopal, residents of Bhopal former Hockey Olympian Shri Jalaluddin and Shri Sameer Daad were also present in the programme. Sports Director Shri Ravi Kumar Gupta proposed the vote of thanks. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan was given a memento by Hockey India. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan was presented with a T-shirt framed with signatures of the players of the Indian women’s hockey team.
