Olympic bronze medal-winning men’s hockey team players from the state during a felicitation ceremony organised by the Punjab Government in Chandigarh. TRIBUNE PHOTO

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 12

The Punjab Government today honoured the state players who brought laurels to the country in the Tokyo Olympics with cash awards amounting to Rs 28.36 crore.

Gold medallist Neeraj skips event

Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra skipped the ceremony. The government had said it would honour Chopra with a cash award of Rs2.51 crore. “We will surely honour him whenever he comes here,” said CM Capt Amarinder Singh

CM says will cook for players, their kin

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh announced he would host the Olympic players soon and cook their favourite food. “Let me take the liberty to invite you (medal winners) and your family at lunch. I would like to cook food for all of you,” he said

Felicitating the players, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh announced that the government would offer jobs to medal winners and those already in government service would get a promotion. “I am happy to promote Mandeep Singh as a Superintendent of Police (SP),” he said.

State hockey players, who were part of the Olympic bronze medal-winning team, were given Rs 2.51 crore each. Capt Manpreet Singh, vice-captain Harmanpreet Singh, Rupinder Pal Singh, Simranjit Singh, Mandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh, Shamsher Singh, Varun Kumar, Dilpreet Singh, Hardik Singh and Krishan Pathak were among the awardees.

Women’s hockey team members Reena Khokhar and Gurjit Kaur along with discus thrower Kamalpreet Kaur were honoured with a cash prize of Rs 50 lakh each.

“The Indian contingent put up an exceptional show at the Tokyo Olympics. The 2024 Olympics isn’t far and I am sure we will achieve more,” said Kamalpreet.

Pugilist Simranjit Kaur, shooters Anjum Moudgill and Angadveer Singh, athletes Tejinder Pal Singh Toor and Gurpreet Singh and Paralympic badminton player Palak Kohli (who will represent the country at Paralympics), were also awarded Rs 21 lakh each. As a token of gratitude, the women hockey players presented a hockey stick to the Chief Minister with signatures of all team members.

The Chief Minister also announced to name the schools and approach roads leading to their native villages after the names of the players. The event was also attended by Governor VP Singh Badnore, Sports Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi and state MLAs.

However, PCC president Navjot Singh Sidhu was conspicuous by his absence at the function.