Sunehra Safar hosted by Hockey India on Thursday in Bengaluru, witnessed a joyful and special send-off ceremony for the Hangzhou Asian Games-bound Indian Men and Women Hockey Teams. The occasion, particularly for the players, was doubly special as the federation had invited their parents and family members from different parts of the country to be part of the occasion, which also involved the teams and their family members getting felicitated. For many, this was the first time, to have their parents, spouse, children and siblings part of a ceremony of this accord which was graciously attended by Tusharkanti Behera, the Minister For Electronics and IT, Sports And Youth Services And Home, Government of Odisha, Hockey India president Dr Dilip Tirkey, Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh, Executive Members of Hockey India, former players and also technical officials and umpires from India who have been named to officiate at the Hangzhou Asian Games, as per a Hockey India press release. Former players and Olympians such as AB Subbaiah, and Sabu Varkey were also present on the occasion. While there was as much fun, frolic and joyous celebrations with some enticing performances of yakshagana – a traditional dance-drama with origins in Dakshina Karnataka, Rajasthani folk and a fusion ensemble – the event also underlined the team’s preparedness to bag the top honours in the quadrennial extravaganza. While Hockey India officially announced the members of the Men and Women’s Teams, they also anointed Harmanpreet Singh as the Captain and Hardik Singh as his deputy for the Men’s squad while Savita will continue to lead the women’s side along with Deep Grace Ekka as the Vice Captain.
The men’s team comprises PR Sreejesh, Krishan Pathak, Varun Kumar, Amit Rohidas, Jarmanpreet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Sanjay, Sumit, Nilakanta Sharma, Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Shamsher Singh, Abhishek, Gurjant Singh, Mandeep Singh, Sukhjeet Singh and Lalit Kumar Upadhyay. The women’s team includes Savita, Bichu Devi Kharibam, Deepika, Lalremsiami, Monika, Navneet Kaur, Neha, Nisha, Sonika, Udita, Ishika Chaudhary, Deep Grace Ekka, Vandana Katariya, Sangita Kumari, Vaishnavi Vittal Phalke, Nikki Pradhan, Sushila Chanu and Salima Tete.
Having arrived in Bangalore from Odisha to see off the teams, Behera said, “I am very happy to be here for the send-off ceremony and personally wish the Indian Teams for the Hangzhou Asian Games. Having closely followed the recent success of both men’s and women’s teams, I am confident that they will bring home top laurels. I wish you all the very best.” Speaking on the occasion, Tirkey said, “Sunehra Safar – not only signifies the team’s journey from India to Hangzhou, China but it also signifies the years of hard work, dedication and sacrifices the players have made – training here in Bangalore, away from their families. Hockey India, through this event, acknowledges the incredible efforts put in by the families of the players. This is the first time, that all the family members of both teams have been brought together for an event and we wanted to honour the efforts of the family members in nurturing these champions. We are very grateful to all parents, spouses and children of the players who have graciously accepted our invitation and have come here to Bangalore to attend this event.”