Bengaluru, 26th March 2016: It was a day to remember as the best hockey players in India and former greats of the game came together for the Hockey India 2nd Annual Awards here in the Garden City.
The Awards:
Best Player(Women)- Deepika(Rs.25 lac & Trophy)
Best Player(Men)- PR Sreejesh(Rs.25 lac & Trophy)
Lifetime Achievement Award:Late Shri Shankar Laxman (Rs.30 lac & Trophy)
Savita – Best Goalkeeper of the year Award
Kothajit Singh – Best Defender of the year award
Ritu Rani – Best Midfielder award
Rani Rampal – Best Forward award
Harjeet Singh, Junior India captain – Best upcoming U-21 player award
Preeti Dubey – Upcoming player U-21 of the year
Baldev Singh – Invaluable Contribution by Coaches and Support Staff Award
Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy – HI President’s Outstanding Achievement Award
The Late. Capt. Shankar Laxman won the coverted Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award while P.R Sreejesh andDeepika won the Dhruv Batra Player of the Year Award for Men and Women respectively, at the Hockey India 2nd Annual Awards. This year, the total prize money was in excess Rs. 2.00 Crore.
The first set of awards marking important milestone in the careers of players began the proceedings. The Milestone Awards were presented to Dharamvir Singh, Kothajit Singh, Birendra Lakra and Sushila Chanu for making 100th appearance for India and were presented with a cheque of Rs. 50,000/- and a trophy. Gurbaj Singh and V R Raghunath were awarded for turning out in Team India colours for the 200th time and were presented with a cheque of Rs. 1.00 Lakh each and a trophy.
The second set of awards were given in recognition of Individual Achievements to players . The winners of the Individual Achievement Award for goal on debut were Devindar Sunil Walmiki, Harjeet Singh, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Mohammad Umar, Gaganpreet Singh and Preeti Dubey. Besides, Raghuprasad RV, was also felicitated for making his 100th appearance as an umpire in an international match at the World Hockey League Semi Final that was held in Antwerp, Belgium in 2015. The winners of the Individual Achievement Award received cash prize of Rs. 1.00 lakh each.
To celebrate the historic occasion of the Indian women’s team qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics after a gap of 36 years since the Moscow Games, the entire team and the support staff was felicitated. The members of the team were given a cash reward of Rs. 1.00 Lakh each. Similarly, members of the Junior Men’s team and the support staff that won gold in the 8th Junior Asia Cup were also awarded a cash prize of Rs. 1.00 Lakh each. Apart from that, high performing players in the tournament such as Vikas Dahiya who was awarded in the 8th Junior Asia Cup the Goalkeeper of the Tournament Award and Harmanpreet Singh for being awarded the Highest Goal Scorer of the Tournament, earning them each a cash prize of Rs. 1.00 Lakh.
A loud cheer went up when the members of the Senior Indian Men’s team walked up to dias to collect their award from winning the Bronze medal in the FIH Men’s Hero World Hockey League Final that was held in Raipur in December 2015. P.R Sreejeesh, who played a crucial role under the bar was also awarded for receiving the Fans’ Choice Award during the same tournament.
In the second part of the Hockey India Awards, outstanding individual performances in 2015 were recognised. The winners of the 11 Annual Awards were: President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement to Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy, Jaman Lal Sharma Award for Invaluable Contribution to Baldev Singh, Baljit Singh Goalkeeper of the Year Award to Savita, Pargat Singh Defender of the Year Award to Kothajit Singh, Ajit Pal Singh Midfielder of the Year Award to Ritu Rani, Dhanraj Pillay Forward of the Year Award to Rani. Each of these individual awards carried a cash prize of Rs. 5.00 Lakhs besides a glittering trophy.
Apart from this the Asunta Lakra Upcoming Player of the Year Award (Women under 21) was presented to Preeti Dubey, and the Jugraj Singh Upcoming Player of the Year Award (Men – under 21) was presented to Harjeet Singh. Each of the players received a cash prize of Rs. 10.00 Lakhs and a trophy.
The day came to a climactic finish with the presentation of the most eagerly-awaited Dhruv Batra Player of the Year Awards for Men and Women and the Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award.
P.R Sreejesh and Deepika walked up to a thunderous applause to collect the Dhruv Batra Player of the Year Award for Men and Women respectively. The winners of the most prestigious players award for 2015 walked off the stage with a glittering trophy and prize cheque of Rs. 25.00 lakh each.
The final award for the day, the Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award carrying a cash prize of Rs. 30.00 lakh and a trophy was awarded to the Late. Capt. Shankar Laxman in recognition of his accomplishments and contritbution to our national sport.
“I am extremely happy and humbled to be receiving an award on behalf of my father whom I am sure would be honoured by an award that carries Major Dhyan Chand’s name. I am thankful to Hockey India for this recognition of my father,” said Mr.Manohar Singh Shekhawat, who accepted the Hockey India Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of Late. Capt. Shankar Laxman.
“It’s a great honour for me to be chosen as the Hockey India Dhruv Batra Player of the Year award. I dedicate this award to all my coaches, family members and friends who have encouraged me and pushed me to give my best to hockey. I hope this award will encourage youngsters to play the national game in right earnest,” said P.R Sreejesh, Player of the Year (Men).
“I am overjoyed to be selected for the most coveted Hockey India awards in recognition of my efforts. I have always strived to give my best playing the Indian team. Without doubt, this recognition will continue to spur me to do even better in the years to come,” said Deepika, Player of the Year (Women).
The glittering award ceremony was conducted in Bangalore, Karnataka by Sophie Choudhary.