India's men and women hockey teams given grand felicitation ahead of Asian Games at ‘Sunehra Safar’

The Continental event offers Paris Olympics 2024 quota for the winner.

Hockey India (HI), the official governing body that oversees the sport of field hockey in India, orchestrated the ‘Sunehra Safar’ event on August 31, 2023, as a send-off ceremony for the Indian national men’s and women’s hockey teams for the upcoming Asian Games 2023. All the family members of the national players from various parts of the country were also part of the grand ceremony.

The event was the first of its kind, with HI first felicitating the family members of the hockey players with angvastra, bouquet, and a hockey India momento. The respective players were then called on to the stage to be presented with a jersey by their families.

The ceremony marked the gracious presence of the Minister for Electronics and IT, Sports and Youth Services and Home, Govt. of Odisha, Tusharkanti Behera, HI President Dilip Tirkey, HI Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh, and Sekar J Manoharan, the Treasurer of HI. In addition, former star athletes and Olympians including Dhanraj Pillay, AB Subbaiah, Allan Schofield, and Sabu Varkey attended the event.

In his address, Padma Shree awardee Dilip Tirkey acknowledged that the event not only highlights the significance of team India’s journey to Hangzhou, China, but also the hard work, dedication, and sacrifices that the players have made by staying away from their families for their preparations. He went on to thank the family members of these athletes who have contributed invariably in nurturing these athletes.

He also lauded the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams for their brilliant performance with the former bagging a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 and the latter finishing fourth in the same event.

Furthermore, the Indian men’s team claiming the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 title, the women’s team winning the FIH Nations Cup 2022, and the recent tours’ performance show that the teams are ready to secure the Olympics berth at the coming Asian Games 2023, said the Hockey India president.

Having traveled to Bengaluru from Odisha, Tusharkanti Behera, was glad to be present at the send-off occasion and expressed with confidence that both teams will fare well at the Asian Games 2023 and bring laurels to the entire nation.

The event witnessed dance performances from A fusion ensemble by Oxygen group, Yakshagana - which is a traditional dance-drama having origins in Dakshina Karnataka, Rajasthani Ghoomar folk-dance, and joyous Bhangra display by artists. The occasion concluded with Bhola Nath Singh delivering a vote of thanks speech and players being invited for team photos.

Harmanpreet Singh-led men’s hockey team and the women’s hockey team headed by Savita Punia will continue their training at the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Bengaluru, before departing for Hangzhou, China, on September 19, 2023. The Asian Games 2023 are slated to commence from September 23 and will run until October 8, 2023.