A day after Punjab government announced Rs one crore each to Punjab players part of Olympic bronze-medallist Indian hockey team, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday asked the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to increase the cash reward of Rs three crore to all hockey players along a job of a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in the Punjab Police.
“Simultaneously, Rs one crore should be given to all representatives from the State who had part of the Indian contingent at the Olympics,” he said.
Sukhbir said that it was a great honour that as many as 10 players from Punjab were part of the men’s hockey team. “The boys have not only brought glory to the State and the country but their victory would also serve the purpose of reviving the sport in the country. The interest of the youth in hockey is set to revive after the historic podium finish after 41 years,” he said.
“SAD is committed to prioritizing hockey and had during its 10-year-tenure in government created a large number of astro-turf grounds besides establishing a world class hockey stadium at Mohali,” said Sukhbir adding, “We will continue in our effort to take hockey forward once we form the government in 2022”.
“In case, the Congress Government does not give enhanced award money and a government job to the hockey bronze medal winners, the next SAD-BSP alliance would do the needful,” he said.
PUNJAB TO NAME ROADS AFTER OLYMPIC MEDAL WINNERS
Punjab School Education and PWD Minister Vijay Inder Singla on Friday said that the State Government has decided to name the roads and schools of the respective areas after Olympic medal winner players.
Congratulating the Indian team for clinching a medal after 41 years, the Minister said that these players have made India proud once again and naming the roads and schools would be a small token of gratitude to honour their great achievement.
Singla said that the Chief Minister has given approval to rename the roads and schools and the respective department officials have been directed to initiate the process in this regard at the earliest.
“The road connecting to the residence and school of the area of the respective medal winner player will be named after him. It would inspire the youngsters to achieve their desired goals in their life,” he said.
Singla added that there was a golden contribution of Punjab in the field of Indian sports and it has sent the second largest contingent in Olympics in the country as 20 sportspersons were from Punjab out of total 124.
In the hockey squad, 11 players were also from Punjab which included team captain Manpreet Singh, vice captain Harmanpreet Singh, Rupinderpal Singh, Simranjeet Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh, Hardik Singh, Samsher Singh, Varun Kumar and Krishan Pathak. On the other hand, the women's hockey team also performed well in the Tokyo Olympics but lost to Britain in the match for Bronze medal.
Singla said that Gurjit Kaur and Reena Khokhar were also the players from Punjab in the women hockey team.