Punjab Sports Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, on Wednesday, awarded cash prizes to Tokyo Olympic gold medalist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and Jakarta Para-Asian Games-2018 bronze medalist Gurlal Singh.
Fulfilling the announcement made by the Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh, Rana Sodhi handed over a cheque of Rs.2.51 crore to “Golden Boy” Neeraj Chopra during the felicitation ceremony held at Punjab Bhawan, while Rs.50 lakh cash prize was given to cyclist Gurlal Singh, who had clinched a bronze medal in Jakarta Para-Asian Games-2018.
Addressing the gathering, Sports Minister Rana Sodhi expressed gratitude towards the Chief Minister for bestowing the highest amount of cash prizes to the sports persons across the country. He also announced that in the coming days, cash prizes would also be distributed to the remaining national and international players. He said, the new sports policy of Punjab was gaining momentum and Punjab was fast moving towards its numero-uno spot in the arena of sports, expressing hope that Indian sports persons would bring laurels to the country in the Paris Olympics-2024 too.
Notably, while the Olympic Javelin Throw gold medalist Neeraj Chopra has been honoured with Rs.2.51 crore cash prize today, the bronze medal winner Indian Mens Hockey team players from state Manpreet Singh (Captain), Harmanpreet Singh (Vice Captain), Mandeep Singh, Hardik Singh, Rupinder Pal Singh, Shamsher Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh, Varun Kumar and Simranjit Singh were given Rs.2.51 crore each last month. Similarly, two players of Indian Womens Hockey team Gurjit Kaur and Reena Khokhar, reserve goalkeeper of Indian Mens Hockey team Krishan Bahadur Pathak and a finalist athlete Kamalpreet Kaur were awarded Rs.50 lakh each, while six other Olympics and Paralympics participants including Tejinder Pal Singh Toor and Gurpreet Singh, shooters Angadveer Singh Bajwa and Anjum Maudgil, Boxer Simranjit Kaur and Para-badminton player Palak Kohli were honored with Rs.21 lakh each, which amounts to Rs.28.36 crore.
The Minister was accompanied by Principal Secretary Sports Raj Kamal Chaudhary, Director Sports DPS Kharbanda, MBSPSU Vice Chancellor Lieutenant General (Retd.) Dr. Jagbir Singh Cheema, Registrar Col. Navjit Singh Sandhu, PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry Chairman Karan Gilhotra, Hockey Olympian Ajit Singh, Tenzing Norgay Awardee Colonel Sarfraz Singh and Joint Director Kartar Singh.