Chandigarh. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday honored the hockey players of Punjab who won bronze medal in the recently concluded Paris Olympics with a cash prize of Rs one crore each. Mann said in a program organized on this occasion that this is a historic occasion as all these sons of the soil, who have brought pride to the state and the country, are being honored. The Indian men’s hockey team defeated Spain 2-1 in the bronze medal match in Paris. The team had earlier won the bronze medal in Tokyo Olympics 2020 as well. Mann honored eight hockey players of Punjab included in the Indian team with Rs one crore each.
He also rewarded 11 other players from the state who participated in the Olympics with Rs 15 lakh each. Mann said that he watched every hockey match of the Indian team and the brilliant performance of these players has made everyone feel proud. He said that winning a medal is like a dream come true for every countryman. He praised captain Harmanpreet Singh for leading the team with responsibility.
Mann said Indian hockey was on the path of revival by regaining its old glory. He mooted the idea of organising a four-nation hockey tournament in Mohali, Punjab in November and said he would talk to the Indian hockey officials in this regard. The Chief Minister said the state government was working whole-heartedly to promote sports and no stone would be left unturned in this regard. He said the third session of Khel Mahakumbh ‘Kheda Watan Punjab Diyan’ would begin from August 28, which would act as a catalyst to promote sports in the state.
Bhagwant Mann said the state government would develop football cluster in Mahilpur area, boxing in Sangrur, hockey in Jalandhar, athletics in Ludhiana and other sports clusters to promote sports. Mann said besides giving cash awards and jobs to medal-winning sportspersons, the state would also explore the feasibility of giving them promotions in the jobs already offered to them. The Chief Minister said the sportspersons would be made brand ambassadors for the state’s campaign against the drug menace. Harmanpreet Singh said the honour would prove helpful in further promoting sports in the state.
