"Matter of great pride": Hockey Jharkhand General Secretary Bijay Shankar Singh hails Youth Hockey5s silver medallists
Ranchi, July 26
Hockey Jharkhand General Secretary Bijay Shankar Singh praised the Indian women's hockey team after their silver medal-winning performance at the Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship in Muscat, highlighting the contribution of five players from Jharkhand and expressing confidence in their World Cup prospects.
Bijay said it was a matter of pride for the state that five of the 10 players in the team were from Jharkhand.
"It is a matter of great pride for Hockey Jharkhand that five out of 10 players are daughters of Jharkhand... Our daughters will play in this World Cup, and they will play well... On behalf of our President, Bholanath, I want to congratulate these people. They will receive Rs 1 lakh each from Hockey India..." Singh told ANI.
Ashish Tani Purti also expressed happiness over the team's achievement and said the players were looking forward to the World Cup.
"I have just won a gold medal. This is my second time, so it feels great. When we win a gold medal for our country, we feel happy from within... I want us to receive the same support in the future... We have qualified for the World Cup..." Purti told ANI.
Shruti Kumari, another member of the Indian women's hockey team, said the players supported each other throughout the tournament and were determined to perform better at the World Cup.
"We gave a great performance. The entire team supported each other... We brought home the silver medal, and we learned a lot there... We had our final match against China... We have qualified for the World Cup, but we will work harder, and when we go to play in the World Cup, we will bring home the gold medal," Kumari told ANI.
The Indian Women's Hockey Team finished as runners-up at the Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship in Muscat, Oman, after going down 2-4 to China in the Final on Saturday.
— ANI
Reader Comments
So inspiring to see young women from Jharkhand making waves in hockey! The team spirit Shruti mentioned about supporting each other is what makes Indian sports truly special. I remember the days when hockey was struggling to get attention, but this Youth Hockey5s silver and the qualification for World Cup shows we're building a strong pipeline. Can't wait to see them bring gold from the World Cup! 🇮🇳🏑
Silver is great, but we need to analyze why we lost to China 2-4 in the final. The girls have talent, no doubt, but Hockey India must ensure proper coaching and strategy for the World Cup. We can't just celebrate participation; we need to win gold. Also, Rs 1 lakh per player is good, but more sustained financial support is needed for these young athletes to focus on training rather than worrying about their families' finances.
Excellent work by the Indian women's hockey team! As someone who follows Asian hockey closely, I can say Youth Hockey5s is a tough competition. Five players from Jharkhand is indeed impressive - that state has produced so many hockey talents over the years. The girls seem determined to convert silver into gold at the World Cup. Keep it up! 👏
This is the kind of news that gives you hope for Indian sports! When you have five players from one state, it shows how much depth we have. But let's be real - the real challenge starts now. The World Cup will be a different ball game. These girls need exposure to international playing conditions and top-class training. Hockey Jharkhand and Hockey India need to work hand-in-hand to prepare them properly. Proud of the team though! 🏑🇮🇳
S We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.