Picture Credit: Twitter
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced a cash prize of INR 1.1 Crore for the Indian men’s hockey team, which won the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 on Saturday. The CM congratulated the team on their remarkable feat and praised their dedication and prowess.
He also thanked Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur for gracing the trophy distribution ceremony and appreciated the efforts of the organisers for hosting the grand international event in Chennai.
Hockey India also announces rewards for the side
According to a press statement from Hockey India, a financial award for the players and support staff was also announced. The tweet revealed that each member of the Indian Men's Hockey Team would receive INR 3 Lakh in cash, while the support staff would receive INR 1.50 Lakh.
"For their spectacular performance in the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023, Hockey India Announces a cash reward of Rs. 3,00,000 for each Player and Rs. 1,50,000 for each Support Staff," said the tweet.
The Indian team staged an incredible comeback to defeat Malaysia 4-3 in a thrilling final at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium. Trailing 3-1 in the third quarter, India scored three consecutive goals to take a 4-3 winning lead.
Notably, India remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, winning four matches and drawing one in the group stage. They scored 20 goals and conceded only five, with Harmanpreet Singh being the top scorer with nine goals. In the semi-finals, India thrashed Japan 5-0, while Malaysia beat Korea 6-2 to set up a title clash.
With this win, India have become the most successful team in the Asian Champions Trophy, surpassing Pakistan’s record of three titles. India had previously won the trophy in 2011, 2016, and 2018 (shared with Pakistan). The Indian team will now look forward to getting their hands on the Asian Games gold medal in Hangzhou, China, in the coming months.
