PTI
NEW DELHI
Top four performers of the season, Birendra Lakra, Akashdeep Singh, PR Sreejesh and Manpreet Singh will be fighting for the men's Player of the Year recognition in the second edition Hockey India Annual Awards to be held in Bengaluru on March 26.
HI on Thursday released the list of nominations for the much-awaited Hockey India Annual Awards which will be given given in recognition of excellence in performance for the year 2015 and overall contribution to the game.
The second edition of the most coveted awards in Indian hockey carries a total prize money of over Rs 2 crore. Among women, striker Rani Rampal, Deepika, skipper Ritu Rani and goalkeeper Savita will be in contention for the Player of the Year award. Player of the Year award in both men and women's category carries a prize purse of Rs 25 lakh each and a trophy.
Besides, the Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement award carries a cash prize of Rs 30 lakh and trophy, while the Jugraj Singh Upcoming Players of the Year (men) and Asunta Lakra Upcoming Player of the Year (women )awards are given to promising under-21 players and it carries a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh each and trophies. Apart from this, awards instituted in honour of former greats of the game will be given for outstanding individual performance in the field.
The President Award for Outstanding Achievement, the Baljit Singh Award for Goalkeeper of the Year, the Pargat Singh Award for Defender of the Year, the Ajit Pal Singh Award for Midfielder of the Year and Dhanraj Pillay Award for Forward of the Year each carry cash prize of Rs 5 lakh each and trophies.
The second Hockey India awards will also felicitate players, both men and women, who achieved significant milestones such as playing the 100th or 200th international match for India or scored a goal on debut appearance. The milestone awards carry cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000 respectively.
At these awards, the women's team and the support staff will be facilitated for making history by qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics. The junior men's team and the support staff will be also facilitated for winning gold at the eighth Junior Asia Cup, while the senior men's team and the support staff will be honoured for winning bronze in the Hockey World League Final in Raipur last year.
