Savita & Harmanpreet Singh Crowned Players of the Year
New Delhi Hosts Grand Ceremony Honouring Indian Hockey Stars and Legends
BNH NETWORK
New Delhi - The Hockey India 7th Annual Awards 2024 turned into a historic evening as the nation’s hockey fraternity gathered in New Delhi to honour India’s top players, officials, and legends. Marking 100 years of Indian hockey and the golden jubilee of India's 1975 World Cup victory, the event saw record-breaking cash prizes of INR 12 crore distributed to winners across multiple categories.
The night’s biggest accolades went to Savita and Harmanpreet Singh, who were named Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Player of the Year 2024 in the Women’s and Men’s categories, respectively, receiving INR 25 lakh and a trophy each.
Golden Jubilee Honour: 1975 World Cup Heroes Awarded Lifetime Achievement
One of the most poignant moments of the evening was the felicitation of India’s 1975 World Cup-winning team. The team was bestowed with the Hockey India Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award 2024, accompanied by a cash prize of INR 50 lakh. Present among the legends were Shri Leslie Fernandez, Shri Onkar Singh, Shri Ashok Diwan, Shri B P Govinda, Shri Kaliah P E, Brigadier HJS Chimni, Shri V J Phillips, Shri Ashok Kumar, Shri Aslam Sher Khan, and Brigadier Harcharan Singh. The late members were represented by their families.
Speaking on the recognition, Savita said, “I am truly honoured to receive this award for the third time. This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without my teammates, coaches, family, and fans. This recognition will only push me to work harder.”
Expressing his gratitude, Harmanpreet Singh said, “These awards mean a lot. They serve as motivation for young players. I hope we bring the World Cup home next year, just like our 1975 legends.”
India’s Olympic & Asian Champions Rewarded
- Members of the Indian Men's Hockey Team, who clinched bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics, were honoured with a cash prize of INR 15 lakh each, alternate players received INR 5 lakh each, and support staff were awarded INR 7.5 lakh each.
- Title-winning teams of the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024 (China) and Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024 (Bihar) were awarded INR 3 lakh per player and INR 1.5 lakh per support staff.
- Junior Men’s and Junior Women’s Asia Cup champions received INR 2 lakh per player and INR 1 lakh per support staff.
Recognizing Excellence: Individual & Milestone Awards
- Harmanpreet Singh won INR 10 lakh for being named FIH Men’s Player of the Year 2024.
- PR Sreejesh received INR 5 lakh for being honoured as FIH Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year 2024.
- Deepika received INR 1 lakh each for her stellar performances at the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024 and Junior Women’s Asia Cup 2024.
- Araijeet Singh Hundal won INR 1 lakh for being named Player of the Tournament at the Junior Men’s Asia Cup 2024.
- Special milestone awards were given to players achieving international caps, with Sushila Chanu receiving INR 2.5 lakh for 250 caps, Amit Rohidas INR 2 lakh for 200 caps, and Vivek Sagar Prasad & Sumit INR 1.5 lakh each for 150 caps.
Grassroots Hockey & Officials Honoured
- Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu was named Best Member Unit of the Year 2024 for its pioneering Tamil Nadu School Hockey League, receiving INR 10 lakh.
- Ripudaman Sharma received the Hockey India President Award for Umpire/Umpires Manager of the Year 2024, with a cash prize of INR 2.5 lakh.
- Anil Kumar P K was honoured as Technical Official of the Year 2024, also receiving INR 2.5 lakh.
- Beighton Cup Hockey Tournament was recognised with the Hockey India President Award for Outstanding Achievement 2024, with INR 5 lakh.
- Prasar Bharati received the Hockey India Jaman Lal Sharma Award for Invaluable Contribution 2024 for expanding the reach of Hero Hockey India League 2024-25.
Fact File: Key Winners & Prize Money
- INR 5,00,000 - Baljit Singh Award for Goalkeeper of the Year: Savita
- INR 5,00,000 - Pargat Singh Award for Defender of the Year: Amit
- Rohidas
- INR 5,00,000 - Ajit Pal Singh Award for Midfielder of the Year: Hardik Singh
- INR 5,00,000 - Dhanraj Pillay Award for Forward of the Year: Abhishek
- INR 10,00,000 - Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming P
layer (Women U-21): Deepika - INR 10,00,000 - Jugraj Singh Award for Upcoming Player (Men U-21): Araijeet Singh Hundal
- INR 25,00,000 - Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year (Women): Savita
- INR 25,00,000 - Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year (Men): Harmanpreet Singh
- INR 50,00,000 - Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award: 1975 World Cup-winning team
The Hockey India 7th Annual Awards 2024 showcased the remarkable progress of Indian hockey while honouring its rich legacy. The event was not just about recognizing excellence but also about inspiring the next generation of players to strive for greatness.
