Hockey star Vandana Katariya made Uttarakhand’s brand ambassador for women & child dept

Haridwar: India’s hockey star Vandana Katariya was named the brand ambassador of the women and child development department of Uttarakhand as well as the brand ambassador of the Centre’s ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ scheme for Haridwar district on Sunday. The announcements were made by chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, on the same day that she was awarded the Tilu Rauteli award, the state’s highest honour for women, and a day after the state government announced a cash reward of Rs 25 lakh for her Olympic feat – she is India’s first woman to score an Olympic hat-trick. State sports and education minister Arvind Pandey visited Pandey’s home in Haridwar’s Roshnabad village to personally hand over the certificates to Katariya’s mother.

“It is a proud moment for us,” said Katariya’s mother Sauran Katariya.

“Uttarakhand’s daughter Vandana Kataria played tremendously in a hockey match at the Tokyo Olympics. I am glad to announce her as brand ambassador of the women and child development department,” said CM Dhami.

“Vandana Kataria made history in the Olympic games and it is a matter of pride for the entire nation. The education department of Haridwar has named her as the brand ambassador of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign for the district,” Pandey said.

On Wednesday, an FIR was filed against some people for bursting crackers in mock celebration after the women’s hockey team lost to Great Britain in the play-off for Bronze and finished fourth in the Olympics, saying the team had lost for having “too many Dalit players”. Three accused have been held so far. The Indian women’s team made history by finishing as one of the last four teams in the Olympics for the first time.