Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik today felicitated the four Odisha players for helping Bhubaneswar-based state franchise Kalinga Lancers win their maiden title in the Hockey India League earlier last month. The four players are: Dipsan Tirkey, Amit Rohidas, Nilam Sanjeep Xess and Anand Lakra.

In a state government function here at Jayadev Bhawan, Patnaik handed over citation along with cash award of total Rs 5.78 lakhs each to the four players. The cash award includes Rs 1 lakh from Sports Department and Rs 4.78 lakhs as their share from prize money gained though winning the HIL title. However, defender Rohidas could join the function as he was busy playing in the Inter-Railway Championship at Kapurthala.

While congratulating the four Odisha players for their performance in the Hockey India League, the Chief Minister announced that Odisha would play host to the World Hockey League 2017 and the World Cup Hockey in 2018. The felicitation function turned out to be good occasion for politicians and bureaucrats to gain publicity mileage.

Among them, BJD Rajya Sabha Member Dilip Tirkey, Sports and Youth Services Minister Sudam Marndi, Industries Minister Debi Prasad Mishra, Commerce and Transport Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi, Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts Minister Snehangini Chhuria, Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi, Development Commissioner R Balkrishnan, Sports and Youth Affairs Secretary Vishal Dev and Kalinga Lancers chairman Sanjay Singh were present.
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PHOTO: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Kalinga Lancers’ Odisha players (L to R) Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Dipsan Tirkey and Anand Lakra pose with the HIL trophy in Bhubaneswar on March 4, 2017.