The Punjab Olympic association today felicitated the contingent of Punjabi players and coaches which took part in recently concluded Tokyo Olympics.During a function held here today, the President of Association Brahm Mohindra, senior Vice President Rajdeep Singh Gill, Secretary General KS Sidhu, Vice President Pargat Singh and Vice President of Indian Olympic Association Kuldeep Vats honoured the players and coaches with silver plaque. Those who were felicitated today included members of Bronze medal winner Indian Hockey squad Manpreet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Simranjeet Singh, Hardik Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Varun Kumar, Shamsher Singh, Gurbanta Singh and Krishan Bahadur Pathak, Boxer Simranjot Kaur, Shooter Anjum Moudgill, coaches Shivendra Singh, Mahinder Singh Dhillon and Sandeep Kumar.In his address Brahm Mohindra said that the players who had excelled in Tokyo must work hard and excel in coming competitions. He expressed hope that the players will perform better in Paris 2024 Olympics. Mohindra said that association in collaboration with Punjab government will evolve a new policy to promote budding players.Secretary of Hockey Punjab and former Olympian Pargat Singh said that this was result of hard work and perseverance of the players. He said that players have a sharp mind as they have to take decision at very short time.
Pargat Singh said that as Director Sports he had established six a side astroturfs which ultimately helped in bagging the medals at Olympics. He said that coaches, players and associations should join hands for creating atmosphere in state, which will help in weaning away menace of drugs in state.On the occasion Senior Vice President of association and former DGP Rajdeep Singh Gill laid thrust on focusing on fitness of teams whereas General Secretary Raja KS Sidhu said that hall of fame at Olympic Bhawan depicting the achievements of Punjabi players is ready and will be dedicated to nation soon. Vice President of Indian Olympic Association Kuldeep Vats lauded the Punjab Olympics association for this path breaking initiative.On the occasion Media Advisor of the association Navdeep Singh Gill showed a movie made on players of Olympics. In this movie all the 25 goals were shown out of which 23 goals were made by Punjabi players. Stage was conducted by Athletics coach Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi.Prominent among other who were present at the occasion included Padam Shri Kartar Singh, Teja Singh Dhaliwal, Sikander Singh Maluka, KVS Sidhu, Arjuna Awardee Tara Singh, RK Bali, KVS Brar, Manider Kaur Virk, Kulwinder Singh Thiara, Prabhjit Singh, Jasbir Singh Gill and Sandeep Saini (POA Officials), Padam Shri Bahadur Singh, Gurbaksh Singh Sandhu, SS Pannu and Baldev Singh (all Dronacharya Awardee), Baljit Singh Dhillon and Madhuri Saxena (both Arjuna Awardee), Moscow Olympics Gold Medallist Devinder Singh Garcha, Olympian Hardeep Singh Grewal, Junior World Cup Winner Tejbir Singh, Athlete Harmilan Bains and Chandigarh Olympics Association President Amrinder Singh Bajaj.