Hardik Singh and Salima Tete Bag Hockey India Player of the Year 2023 Awards
New Delhi: March 31 : Hardik Singh and Salima Tete were conferred with the prestigious Hockey India Player of the Year Awards 2023 at the 6th Annual Hockey India Awards held in New Delhi on Sunday. The duo, who are midfielders in their respective teams, received the Balbir Singh Senior Award alongside a trophy and a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh each.
The ceremony, which saw India's hockey stars, officials, and legends being honored, was inaugurated by Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh. He lauded the players, officials, and support staff for their dedication and pursuit of excellence, which has propelled Indian hockey forward.
Expressing his delight at receiving the award, Hardik Singh said, "This award is a matter of great pride for me. It reflects the hard work and commitment put in by our team throughout the year. I am grateful to everyone for their support, and I will continue to work even harder to justify this honor."
Salima Tete echoed similar sentiments, thanking her teammates, coaches, and support staff for their faith in her. "Representing the country fills me with immense pride," she said. "This award will motivate me to perform even better every single day."
The ceremony also saw former veteran player Ashok Kumar being bestowed with the prestigious Hockey India Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contributions to the sport. He received a cash prize of Rs 30 lakh and a trophy.
Here's a quick look at the other major Hockey India Awards 2023 winners:
- Hockey India Baljeet Singh Award for Best Goalkeeper of the Year: PR Sreejesh
- Hockey India Pargat Singh Award for Best Defender of the Year: Harmanpreet Singh
- Hockey India Ajit Pal Singh Award for Best Midfielder of the Year: Hardik Singh (shared with Player of the Year award)
- Dhanraj Pillay Award for Hockey India Forward of the Year: Abhishek
