Beijing Olympic bronze medallist Vijender, national coach Sandhu to be felicitated with Rs 11 lakh each.JALANDHAR, OCT 14 :Member Parliament and President Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) Sukhvir Singh Badal will distribute sports equipment of different disciplines among 15,000 budding players from all districts of the state at a state-level function being organised by the Punjab Sports Department at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium in Burlton Park here tomorrow at 3 p.m
Punjab Sports Director Padam Shree Pargat Singh said that the department had admitted 3,000 boys and girls in the sports wings of schools and colleges during the current financial year. These sports wing players would also be provided complete sports kit like track suit, sports shoes, etc. along with sports equipment of their game.
Last year on August 29 on the occasion of National Sports Day, the Birthday of hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had distributed sports equipment to 4,000 boys and girls.
The Sports Department has taken this initiative as sports equipment is costly and beyond the reach of the sportsmen. Pargat Singh is confident that this efforts of the state government would infuse new enthusiasm among the players.
The department has also decided to formally inaugurate the Punjab Hockey League for boys under-12, u-14, u-16, u-19 colleges and for girls under-15 years and above 15 years/colleges. Two hundred sixty teams have confirmed their participation in the Punjab Hockey League and as many as 3125 players would be participating in the Hockey League, which would be played on the weekends and would continue for next six months.
On this occasion, the department will honour chief NIS boxing coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu and Beijing Olympics bronze medalist Vijender Singh with a cash award of Rs. 11.00 lakh each. Quarter-finalists Jitendra Kumar and Akhil Kumar will be given a cash award of Rs. 5.00 lakh each. Bathinda Senior National boxing gold medalist Kuldeep Singh, who also won bronze medal in Grand Prix Boxing Championship held at Czech Republic in May 2008, with be felicitated with a cash award of Rs. 1.00 lakh.