**Bhubaneswar:** Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has congratulated the Indian Women’s Hockey Team for winning silver medal in Asian Games 2018 at Jakarta.
The national women’s hockey team got a silver medal at the Asian Games as it lost 1-2 to Japan in the finals today. Four Odia players – Deep Grace Ekka, Sunita Lakra, Namita Toppo and Lilima Minz are part of the national women’s hockey team which clinched the silver medal today.
Odisha Government is the official sponsor of India men and women’s hockey teams for the next five years. In February this year, when Naveen announced Odisha as the sponsor for national hockey teams, he had remarked, “Hockey in Odisha is more than a sport, it’s a way of life, especially in our tribal regions where children learn to walk with hockey sticks. No wonder Odisha has produced India’s finest hockey talent.”
Needless to mention, the hockey craze has already gathered momentum in Odisha, especially across the State Capital which will host Hockey Men’s World Cup in November- December 2018.
On the occasion of National Sports Day, the Chief Minister inaugurated – ‘My heart beats for hockey’ campaign at Kalinga stadium. The campaign includes promotional events in the run-up to the Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar.
