Super Narratives for the Sober Crusader: Mainstream Media’s Tributes to Naveen for India’s Hockey Revival

Bhubaneswar: Benevolence and method seem to characterize everything that the Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik does. Ever since the Indian Men’s and Women’s Hockey teams won the hearts of the people of the country with their spectacular performance at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, congratulatory messages and praises are pouring in for them from various quarters. Starting from the common man to the President of the country, admiration for the players has been flowing in from all quarters. Along with the teams, one personality who has been hugging the limelight in the mainstream and social media now a days is someone who prefers to shun the spotlight – the Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The reason behind Naveen being the blue eyed boy is his selfless efforts to reinvent the past glory of the Indian Hockey. The emotions attached with Hockey have been reignited and all the credit for this goes to Naveen.

Naveen loved and played Hockey during his youth. He passionately loves the Hockey tradition of India, Odisha and Sundargarh. He combined love for the game and his brethren with purposeful patronage to script the Hockey celebration that is now on. He himself keeps away from the hustle and bustle of the media world. But he deserves every bit of eulogy that is coming his way in the media as the saviour of the game. This is how the Chief Minister of Odisha has been in news in the last few days.

The Times of India carried a special report on Naveen’s efforts for the development of Hockey. While the feature analysed win and the reason behind this resurgence, the cartoon was an excellent portrayal of the reality. It showed how Naveen lent a helping hand to the depressed hockey team in 2018 and the journey to the success at the Tokyo Olympics.

NDTV India described the Indian team’s success is a result of Odisha’s efforts. Odisha is the only state which sponsors the Indian Hockey Teams. In association with Hockey India, Odisha has organized many international events in the Bhubaneswar.

The Navbharat Times has called the Chief Minister of Odisha as the real hero of the game when the boys won the bronze medal at Tokyo 2020.

The Mint has gone a bit into the past and made a catchy headline that goes like “How Doon’s hockey goalkeeper, Naveen Patnaik, keeps defending India’s post”. The carefully crafted news item brings out the goalkeeper in Naveen when he was studying at the Doon’s School.

The Print in its Hockey special acknowledged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s efforts in bringing glory by the women’s team and put up a wonderful headline “Winning hearts in Tokyo Olympics, and Naveen Patnaik’s boost to Indian hockey”. The accompanying wonderful cartoon catches the emotions of the players and the nation as a whole when the Women’s team lost in the Semi Finals but won a billion hearts.

The Indian Express has made a vital analysis of the contribution of Odisha and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is shaping the 21st century Hockey in India. Under the title “Behind Olympic hockey success, Odisha’s support over the years”, the Indian Express article makes a thorough review of Odisha’s support to the game over the years.

The New Indian Express came out with an excellent article that described how the sponsorship of the teams by Odisha helped India’s historic win at Tokyo.

The DNA Explainer of 5th August details the crucial role Odisha played in Indian hockey’s success story at Tokyo 2020 Olympics. It goes on to bring forth how after Sahara’s exit in 2018, the Odisha government took over the reins of sponsorship of the national hockey teams both at junior and senior levels.

Times Now carried the news item when the captain of the Indian Men’s Hockey team gave all the credit to Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik for supporting Indian Hockey.

NDTV’s article focused on Naveen’s tweet after the Women’s team lost in the semifinals. With the title, “Won A Billion Hearts”: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Speaks To Women’s Hockey Team, NDTV brought to the fore the emotions of the readers.

The Wire’s article of Indian Hockey and Naveen Patnaik made an exhaustive analysis of Odisha’s contribution in resurrecting Indian Hockey. It gave Naveen hundred percent score with the headline “In India’s Hockey Resurgence, Naveen Patnaik Has Been a Crucial Scorer”. It also said that, as the women’s and men’s teams aim for bronze, the time is ripe to consider the example set by Odisha’s Chief Minister.

News 18 came out with an out of box title for its news item but was befitting to the time. Its headline “Quiet 12th Man, Naveen Patnaik ‘Drag-Flicked’ Hockey Olympic Medal into India’s Post Eleven Yrs After First Try” brought forward Odisha’s hockey passion for in the last decade. It also quoted the Chief Minister as saying “Investment in sports is an investment in youth. Investment in youth is an investment in the future.”

India Today, one of India’s leading web portals, brought detailed news about Naveens efforts in helping and nurturing Indian Hockey. It is an exhaustive repertoire of Naveen’s love for the game. Starting from developing sports infrastructure in the state to sponsoring the National teams, Naveen has nurtured Hockey like on other.