The Indian women's hockey team won the Women's Asian Champions Trophy for the third year in a row, which is a great accomplishment for the whole country. India won the title again by beating China 1-0 in a very close final on Wednesday at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium in Bihar.
The win not only brings home the trophy, but it also shows how talented and hard-working the Indian women's hockey team is. They have won this tournament three years in a row. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the team's success right away and said that it would serve as an example for young players all over the country. He said that this win shows how hard the players worked and how strong they were.
The team's awards kept coming after they won. Hockey India said that each player would get a generous reward of Rs 3 lakh for their outstanding achievement. For their hard work, the support staff also got a reward of Rs 1.5 lakh for each worker.
In an unprecedented move, the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) also joined the celebrations to honour the winners. The AHF has added cash prizes for the best teams for the first time ever. India will get USD 10,000 for winning the gold prize. China and Japan, who came in second and third, will get USD 7,000 and USD 5,000 on their medals, respectively.
There was more partying to come. The government of Bihar also gave the team a special cash award for their great work. Because they worked so hard and stuck with it during the game, each player will get 10 lakh rupees. Chief Coach Harendra Singh will also get 10 lakh rupees because he was very important in leading the team to win. The rest of the support staff also got Rs 5 lakh each as a gift.
This historic win at the 2024 Women's Asian Champions Trophy is a big deal for Indian women's hockey and shows how important the country is becoming in international sports. With support from the government, sports groups, and devoted fans, this win will definitely inspire the next generation of hockey players.
While they enjoy their victory, it's clear that all their hard work paid off. Indian women's hockey has a bright future ahead of it. The victory not only makes the country proud, but it also sets the team up for more success in future foreign games. It's our hope that this is the first of many wins for the Indian women's hockey team!
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