Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal today felicitated the ace Cricketer Yuvraj Singh for bringing laurels to the country in general and Punjab in particular by his spectacular erformance in the national as well as International Cricket. Addressing the gathering after honoring Yuvraj Singh with a cash award of Rs 1 crore in recognition of his sterling performance in the cricket world cup 2011, the Chief Minister said that the rare feat of this young cricketer would continue to inspire the coming generations to follow his footsteps in future. He expressed hope that Yuvraj would surely become a role model for the budding players of the state and the country to promote sports especially the Cricket at international fora. Badal said that the state government had already honored several eminent sportspersons hailing from Punjab who have brought laurels to the country in different sports events at the International forum viz. Olympics, Commonwealth and Asian Games, as per its sports policy. The Chief Minister said that the SAD-BJP alliance government had already taken several path breaking initiatives to promote sports in big way as it had appointed of 10 internationally acclaimed sportspersons from Punjab as DSP The Chief Minister highly appreciated the immense contribution of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal for the promotion of sports at all levels besides upgradation of infra structure in terms of ultra modern new stadiumThe Chief Minister attributed the revival of sports culture in the state due to sheer efforts of Sukhbir Singh Badal, who popularized the mother sport of Punjab- Kabaddi at the international level by holding two International world Cup Kabaddi Tournaments in Punjab besides enhancing its cash prize from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore. Welcoming the proposal of Yuvraj to set up a sports academy in the state, the Chief Minister asked his Principal Secretary to find a suitable land for setting up this academy to be developed as nursery to train the budding players from Punjab in different sports especially in Cricket. He also mentioned that the state government had already set up a state-of-art sports school at Guddha in Bathinda district to catch the young talent adding that more such academies would be opened at block level to train the budding players from that region. Badal complimented the star cricketer for being honored with a cash prize of Rs 1 crore adding that it was a humble effort on the part of state government to recognize Yuvraj’s outstanding contribution in national as well as international cricket. He said the cash award given to him was hardly any amount worth mentioning for the world acclaimed Cricketer like Yuvraj because he easily earns this much fee by just playing one match. Overwhelmed by the superb performance of the son of soil- Yuvraj Singh, the Chief Minister said that the cash award presented to him was nothing but merely a token of love and affection on behalf of the Punjabis in the state. Badal also lauded the role of Yuvraj’s mother s Shabnam Singh in shaping his destiny and career as an eminent cricketer of world fame. The Chief Minister reiterated that the state government would ever remain indebted to such prominent players in future too owing to their immense contribution in field of sports through sheer perseverance and hard work. On the occasion the Chief Minister also honored s Shabnam Singh, with a momento and a shawl. In his address Yuvraj Singh thanked the state government especially the Chief Minister for conferring this prestigious award on him and assured Badal that he would certainly come up to his expectations in running sports academy to produce sportspersons of eminence. Speaking on the occasion Member Rajya Sabha and President Punjab Olympic Association Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa lauded Yuvraj Singh for his rare feat of hitting six sixes in an over against England during the T 20 Cricket Tournament thus joining the premier league of ace cricketerHe said that apart from it the distinction of Yuvraj being the only Cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar to represent the country in County Cricket would go a long way in putting the budding Cricketers on a high pedestal. Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Education Minister and President Punjab Kabaddi Association Sikander Singh Malooka, Technical Education Minister Anil Joshi, PWD Minister Sharanjeet Singh Dhillon, Transport Minister Ajit Singh Kohar, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Pawan Kumar Teenu, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Co-operation KD Bhandari, Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister SK Sandhu, Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs PS Aujla, KJS Cheema and Gurkirat Kirpal Singh ( Both Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister) besides several eminent sportspersons and senior officers of the state government.