Both the men's and women's hockey squads were brought together at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on 16 October, where the Odisha administration marked their gold-medal performances at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan and the Olympic berths those results secured for Los Angeles 2028. Mohan Charan Majhi, attending in his capacity as chief guest, handed over cash rewards to players, coaches, and support staff from both teams at the ceremony.

He referred to the gold medallists as role models for younger generations, adding that their performances had brought honour to India and could serve as a source of motivation for those coming up behind them. Payouts under the state's incentive programme are set at Rs 11 lakh for every player across both the men's and women's squads, with support staff members each receiving Rs 5.5 lakh. Combined prize money set aside for both squads and their coaching and support personnel reached Rs 5.61 crore.

Three athletes from Sundargarh district — Amit Rohidas, Shilanand Lakra, and Sunelita Toppo — each received a cash award of Rs 20 lakh from the Odisha government in acknowledgement of their contributions to Indian hockey. All three athletes have competed at the international level. Funding directed at the men's squad and its support personnel reached Rs 2.75 crore, whereas a slightly higher allocation of Rs 2.86 crore went toward the women's side.

Speaking at the event, Majhi described the athletes from both championship-winning teams as examples worth emulating for younger generations, pointing to their achievements as a reflection of the country's current sporting standards. Drawing particular attention to the women's squad, he pointed out that their gold medal — the first in 44 years — stood as an enduring source of motivation for women throughout the nation.

Remarks from the Chief Minister extended to the captaincy of both squads — Salima Tete at the helm of the women's side and Harmanpreet Singh leading the men's. Pointing to Tete as a model of contemporary, thoughtful leadership in sport, he also attributed the men's team's back-to-back Asian Games gold medal victory to the drive and resolve Harmanpreet brought to the role. Drawing on lines composed by Odia poet Sachidananda Routray, Majhi argued that a place whose earth produces exceptional talent will eventually attract attention well outside its own boundaries.

Odisha's backing of the Indian national hockey teams — covering both the men's and women's sides — was described as an arrangement the state government intends to maintain going forward. Odisha's potential role as a hockey venue came up when Majhi voiced optimism about the state's prospects, contingent on India securing the right to stage the 2036 Olympic Games. In 2036, Odisha will reach a hundred years since it was established as a distinct province.

Sporting facilities across Odisha — reaching well beyond Bhubaneswar — are being expanded under the state government's watch, with the Chief Minister noting that the push aims to open doors for young athletes in districts throughout the region. A planned outlay of more than ₹4,000 crore has been directed toward stadium construction at the block level, according to the official's statement. Plans drawn up for Gothapatna include a sports complex of international scope, with the project carrying an estimated price tag of ₹1,000 crore.

Kalinga Stadium, put forward as the venue for the 2028 World Indoor Athletics Championships, along with a proposed sports complex and grassroots infrastructure work, would together position Odisha as a destination for international competition, he suggested. Majhi noted that the Prime Minister had welcomed Asian Games medallists to his home and engaged with them directly as a way of offering encouragement. The Khelo India initiative, he observed, had expanded into a platform capable of identifying and developing athletic talent drawn from the country's diverse regions.

Ongoing investment in sports facilities and dedicated backing for athletes, the Chief Minister argued, would be the foundation for raising India's standing on the international competitive stage. Sports and Youth Services Minister Suryabanshi Suraj put forward the view that hockey holds a place in Odisha's cultural identity that extends well beyond competition. Gold medals taken by both the men's and women's teams were said to have raised the profile of India and Odisha within international sporting circles, according to his remarks.

Pointing to the track records of Amit Rohidas, Shilanand Lakra, and Sunelita Toppo on the international stage, the minister expressed hope that young athletes growing up in rural parts of Odisha would draw inspiration from those results and pursue competitive sport. Among those present at the felicitation ceremony were Dilip Tirkey — who holds the Hockey India presidency and previously served in the Rajya Sabha — alongside Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Sports and Youth Services Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Bhupendra Singh Poonia, departmental director Yedulla Vijay, and a number of other invited guests. The occasion combined recognition of the teams' performances on the global stage with pledges around hockey investment and athlete development across Odisha.