Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday spoke over the phone with state hockey stars Amit Rohidas and Shilanand Lakra, members of the Indian men’s hockey team that clinched the gold medal at the Asian Games, and congratulated them on their achievement.
Majhi lauded the players for their performance and said their success was a matter of immense pride for the people of Odisha.
“I spoke over the phone with two talented Odia players from the Indian men’s hockey team, Amit Rohidas and Shilanand Lakra, the gold medal winners in the Asian Games, and conveyed my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to them as well as to the entire Indian team,” the chief minister said in a post on X.
“To my two Odia brothers Amit and Shilanand, my endless love and blessings. May this victorious journey for the nation continue unbroken, and may this success soar to even newer heights in the coming days — this is my prayer to Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath,” Majhi said.
India produced a dominant performance to defeat Malaysia 5-1 and win the men’s hockey gold medal for the second time at the Asian Games. Captain Harmanpreet Singh scored twice in the final as India also secured direct qualification for the 2028 Olympics.
BJD president and former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik also congratulated the Indian men’s hockey team on its Asian Games triumph.
“Congratulations to Indian Men’s Hockey Team on winning gold medal at the #AsianGames2026. The team’s back-to-back crown at the Asian Games and direct qualification for the #2028Olympics is indeed a moment of pride for every Indian. Proud that #Odisha is part of this golden glory of Indian Hockey. May the team’s golden journey continue, bringing ever greater glory for the nation,” Patnaik said in a post on X.
The Odisha government is the official sponsor of the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams and has extended its support to the teams until 2036.
