Hockey India will give a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh to the women hockey team and the support staff at the Hockey India awards in Bangalore on March 26, in recognition of their achievement of qualifying for the Rio Olympics.
The Indian women’s hockey team qualified for the 2016 Rio Games after a long wait of 36 years.
“It’s a very big achievement for women’s hockey in India. Till now, the Gold in the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester was the most celebrated moment for women’s hockey, but by qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics, we have managed to push the bar higher,” India skipper Ritu Rani said.
“A good performance in the Olympics will help to take women’s hockey in India a long way ahead. This recognition by Hockey India will further motivate us to put up a good show,” she added.
