Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s intervention and guidance has transformed Indian Hockey over a period of three years. Today, Indian Men’s Hockey team has a bronze with it while the Women’s Hockey team missed out on the bronze, fighting valiantly, by a whisker.
While congratulatory messages have been pouring in for the Indian Hockey players, the nation has begun to realise and acknowledge the role of Naveen Patnaik-led Odisha Government in the performance at Tokyo 2020.
A majority of people across India, might not have been fully aware of the fact that Odisha was officially sponsoring all National Hockey teams. In 2018, when the State Government decided to take this step, many would have dismissed it as publicity or a futile step.
But it was CM Naveen’s far-sightedness, belief in the players and love for the game, which yielded amazing results. A medal in the Olympics after 41 years, is no mean achievement. No wonder, today, accolades and gratitude for the 74-year-old are pouring in from all quarters.
While it is difficult to collate all messages, here is a look at what senior journalists said about Naveen….
Vinod Sharma, Senior Journalist
Congrats Naveen Patnaik for the bronze our hockey team has won in Tokyo. Your faith in India’s ability to regain the lost glory in the game in which we excelled, has paid dividends. The money you earmarked for the purpose from Odisha’s budget has fetched rich dividends. There should be no looking back now as the Olympic medal is bound to revive interest in the sport and draw successive generations of young Indians to it—both men and women. You quietly nurtured the game unlike so many others who talk tall and do little. It once again stands proved that men of few words such as you help script history.
Ravish Kumar, Senior Journalist:
Naveen Patnaik is a CM who has been in power for 21 years. But he prefers not be in the limelight with less talking and more work. With the success of our Hockey Teams, Naveen actions have started speaking for the CM. For the first time, in Tokyo Olympics, the work of a CM is the limelight. The policies of CM Naveen and his Government have hogged headlines.
Sagarika Ghosh, Senior Journalist:
Politicians are rushing to take credit for #Olympicsindia medals. But the politician who really deserves big credit for #HockeyIndiaTeam it’s the self effacing @Naveen_Odisha. Other states must follow Odisha: take up 1 sport,partner with Pvt, provide top facilities.
Not to forget the Champions, the Women’s Hockey Team Captain Rani Rampal said:
Our journey to the Tokyo Olympics wouldn’t have been possible without the support and guidance of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha Shri @Naveen_Odisha Ji. Thank you for trusting in our abilities.
Her counterpart in the Men’s team, Manpreet Singh said:
This dream won’t be possible without the encouragement & vision of Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha Shri Naveen Patnaik ji @CMO_Odisha @sports_odisha who has been supporting us throughout this journey – thank you so much sir from the team and I #OdishaCelebratesOlympicGlory
On August 5, when the Upper House of Indian Parliament was in session, the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Harivansh Narayan Singh said:
“With their outstanding performance Indian Men’s Hockey Team defeated Germany and brought glory to the country by winning a medal after more than four decades. Their achievement is the culmination of collective efforts of various stakeholders including the Government of Odisha headed by Sri Naveen Patnaik. Honourable Chief Minister who came forward to sponsor Men’s and Women’s Hockey teams for five years since 2018 for their continued support and unwavering support showed in our players, topped up by the sheer hardwork and determination of each player of the hockey team.