In a first, Hockey India (HI), on Sunday, felicitated 34 yesteryear stars of the game with a one-time benefit of Rs 2 lakh each for winning gold medals in the previous Olympic Games.
As per safety norms, they are also changing the grip of their sticks regularly while there is a temperature check every day.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Saturday.
Hosts India maintained their unbeaten run with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against defending champions Korea in their opening Super 4 stage match of the Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar, on Wednesday.
India crush Kazakhstan 15-0 to march into Super 4s with all-win record
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Monday.
India's men's hockey team was handed a tough group for the Rio Olympic Games as it has been pooled with defending champions Germany, European Champions Netherlands and Pan-American Games champions Argentina in the six-team Pool B.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Tuesday
Monetary rewards continue to trickle in for the Indian men's hockey team. Sahara India Pariwar announced a cash incentive of Rs 1.27 crore for the players and support staff of the side that emerged winners in the just-concluded London Olympics qualifier.
Sreejesh, a two-time Olympic bronze medallist, believes India have the potential to finish on the podium in the upcoming junior World Cup to be held in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 till December 10.
Former South Africa player David Staniforth has been appointed goalkeeping coach and strategic analyst of India's senior and junior men's hockey teams.
Belgian defender Arthur De Sloover feels the way Indian hockey is progressing over the years, the country is a "big contender" for more glory at the word stage in future.
Indian hockey legend PR Sreejesh, just months after receiving the prestigious Padma Shri, delighted fans by sharing a heartwarming social media post.
Here are glimpses of the ecstatic Indian hockey team...
Hockey India on Tuesday announced a 20-member Indian men's A squad for an exposure tour to Europe which will feature eight matches from July 8 to 20.
The Indian women team's superb performance at the Asia Cup, particularly their attacking style, has come in for praise from the continent's hockey fraternity who on Saturday said the country deserves to be in next year's World Cup.
Olympians, internationals and Arjuna awardees will discuss ways to arrest the sliding fortunes of the national team.
Indian women's hockey team qualified for the Rio Olympic Games .
The Centre has denied political clearance to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for his visit to Paris to support the Indian Hockey team at the Olympic Games, an official source said on Saturday.
Harmanpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, and Mandeep Singh, were greeted by a sea of devotees and well-wishers as they arrived at the holy shrine.
Indian men's hockey team finish third...
India's struggles in the Rourkela leg of the FIH Pro League continued with a 2-4 defeat against Belgium, marking their third consecutive loss at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium. Belgium dominated early, but India showed resilience in the second half.
Indian men's junior hockey team chief coach PR Sreejesh on Friday advised his wards to consider the upcoming World Cup as a stepping stone in their careers, keeping their sights firmly set on the 2028 Los Angeles and 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
Former Team India hockey stars Rupinder Pal Singh, Gurwinder Singh Chandi and Jugraj Singh are now engaged in a different 'field work' - they are part of the relief and rescue operations in flood-affected Punjab.
Navneet Kaur struck from a penalty corner seconds before the final hooter as India came from behind twice to hold defending champions Japan to a 2-2 draw
Indian hockey has fallen on hard times but captain Bharat Chetri believes it is his destiny to lead the team to the London Olympics and snatch a new generation of players away from cricket's grasp.
The Indian junior men's hockey team suffered their first defeat in the ongoing Sultan of Johor Cup, going down to Australia 2-4 in a pool match in Johor, Malaysia, on Wednesday.
'We have enough time to build towards Asian Games and World Cup.'
'Harmanpreet & Co have strong foundation for LA gold'
Why India can't deny Pakistan entry to multi-lateral events on its soil
Forward Mumtaz Khan (8th, 11th, 12th, 15th) scored four times and Chetna scored thrice (6th, 14th, 17th) to help India achieve the dominating win on Monday night.
While Dilip Tirkey is the ruling Biju Janata Dal candidate for the Sundergarh (ST) Lok Sabha constituency, his junior and former India hockey captain, Prabodh Tirkey is the Congress candidate from the Talsara (ST) assembly segment also in Sundergarh district.
Drag-flicker Diwakar Ram will lead the under-21 Indian hockey team against Pakistan in a five-match away Test series from November 11 to 21. The 20-member squad also includes promising junior players in Innocent Kullu, Birendra Lakra, Mandip Antil, Amardeep Ekka among others.
India's men's hockey team chief coach Graham Reid has told his players to keep their emotions in check and avoid cards against a strong opponent like Belgium in the Tokyo Olympics semi-finals on Tuesday.
Sreejesh broke into a wide grin that like his idol, his own skills earned him the sobriquet "The Great Wall of Indian Hockey".
India thrashed Malaysia 4-1 in their second Super 4 stage match of the men's Asia Cup hockey tournament in Rajgir, Bihar, on Thursday.
'I had a feeling from within that this tournament (Asia Cup) would be something special, but I did not think that I would become the player-of-the-tournament.'
'After 1980, our last and eighth gold medal in the Olympics, the game changed drastically when astro-turf was introduced.'
The Indian men's hockey team ended the Bhubaneswar leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League on a high, securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory over England.
