Sahara Group gives away 1.16 crore to Indian hockey team

Lucknow: Leading business conglomerate Sahara India Pariwar felicitated the Indian hockey team and its support staff by bestowing them with cash award worth Rs one crore and 16 lakhs for their brilliant performance in FIH Olympic qualifiers.

India had won the tournament to qualify for the London Olympics. The players and support staff members were honoured with the award and gifts by Sahara India chief Subrata Roy in a glittering ceremony here. For their outstanding display, Sardar Singh and Sandeep Singh were awarded Rs. 11 lakhs each, while the rest of the team members along with the chief coach Michael Nobbs were given Rs. 5 lakh each for their performance. The support staff also got an incentive of Rs. 1 lakh each. "We are delighted with the spirit and commitment that the Indian Hockey Team has shown in the recently conducted FIH Olympic qualifiers. They have made not only us but the entire nation proud," Roy said. Hockey India Secretary General Narendra Batra said, "I am sure this (feliciation) would encourage the sportsmen and the support staff to live upto the expectations of the entire nation and would inspire them to continue playing with the same commitment and zeal that they had displayed during the FIH Olympic qualifiers." PTI