Young Indian Hockey Heroes Receive Rousing Welcome Home After Asia Cup Triumph

New Delhi: The Indian Under-18 men's and women's hockey teams received a grand and emotional welcome at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport after returning from a memorable campaign at the Asia Cup.

As the young athletes emerged from the airport proudly wearing their medals, they were greeted with flower garlands, waving tricolours, rhythmic dhol beats and enthusiastic chants from supporters celebrating their achievements.

The Indian U-18 men's team returned as champions after securing the gold medal, while the women's team earned a commendable bronze medal, ensuring a double celebration for Indian hockey.

The impressive performances of both teams have drawn praise from across the country, including appreciation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, further highlighting the significance of their achievement.

Speaking during the reception, men's head coach and former India captain Sardar Singh said the tremendous public support and recognition from the Prime Minister would serve as a major confidence boost for the young players as they progress in their careers.

Women's head coach Rani Rampal and team captain Sweety Kujur described the bronze-medal finish as an important milestone in their development. While pleased with the result, they stressed the need to continue improving and preparing for future international challenges.

The Indian women's team concluded its U-18 Asia Cup campaign on a high note, displaying impressive attacking flair by scoring 36 goals during the tournament, while also demonstrating strong defensive performances and considerable potential.

In recognition of the teams' achievements, Hockey India announced cash rewards for the players and support staff. Each player of the gold medal-winning men's team will receive ?3 lakh, while support staff members will be awarded ?1.5 lakh each.

For the women's team, each player will receive ?1 lakh following their bronze-medal finish, while every member of the support staff will be awarded ?50,000.

The warm reception and rewards reflect the growing excitement around India's emerging hockey talent and the bright future that lies ahead for both teams.

With inputs from IANS