New Delhi, June 8: The Indian Under-18 men’s and women’s hockey teams were honored by the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, for their remarkable achievements in the Asia Cup. The ceremony took place at the headquarters of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Monday. Mandaviya presented a cheque of ₹61.5 lakh to the men’s team and ₹21 lakh to the women’s team.
In the finals held on Friday in Kakamegahara, the Indian men’s team, led by captain Ketan Kushwaha, triumphed over the host nation Japan with a score of 4-1. Meanwhile, the Indian women’s team, captained by Sweety Kujur, secured a bronze medal by defeating Korea 3-0 in their match.
Mansukh Mandaviya praised both teams for their hard work and dedication, stating, “I congratulate both teams for bringing glory to the nation. The entire country is proud of you. I want to tell you that this is just the beginning. There is no substitute for hard work. Those who have scored 13 goals should aim for 15 or more. Those who have prevented 10 goals should strive to keep the opposition from scoring at all. Whether in studies or sports, dedication is essential. Keep performing to your fullest potential and make your parents and supporters proud; that should be your goal.”
The minister emphasized the Indian government’s commitment, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, to transform India into a sports powerhouse.
Mandaviya also recognized the top scorers, Ashish Tani Purti and Naushin Naz, along with the best goalkeeper, Ayush Raj, who made 10 crucial saves during the tournament. Additionally, he honored former Indian hockey team captains Rani Rampal and Sardar Singh, who served as coaches for the Under-18 men’s and women’s teams, respectively.
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