Chief minister Naveen Patnaik has announced a cash award of Rs 1.5 crore for defender-drag flicker Amit Rohidas for his role in the Indian men’s hockey team winning the gold medal at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou.

“Amit Rohidas’ remarkable achievements exemplify the spirit of perseverance
and excellence. He has become a symbol of hope and pride for aspiring athletes in our state and beyond. His success story resonates with every individual striving to achieve greatness, and we are immensely proud of his accomplishments,” Naveen said in a statement.

Describing Rohidas as a “true son of the soil” from the hockey-rich region of Sundergarh in Odisha, Patnaik said he (Rohidas) had proudly earned himself an Olympic Bronze Medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

On Friday, Naveen had announced a cash award of Rs 5 lakh each for players
and support staff of the victorious Indian men’s hockey team for convincingly beating defending champion Japan 5-1 in the final and sealing a berth for the Paris Olympics 2024.

Earlier, Naveen had announced Rs 1.5 crore for javelin star Kishore Kumar Jena who clinched a silver at the ongoing Asian Games.