Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday appointed Lt Gen Jagbir Singh Cheema as Vice Chancellor of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh Punjab Sports University Patiala.This was disclosed by Sports, Youth Affairs and Services and NRI Affairs Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, after a meeting with the newly appointed VC at his office in Punjab Civil Secretariat.During the meeting, the two discussed in detail the courses that are likely to be introduced in the first session of the university, slated to commence in September.It was decided that the September session will include basic courses, such as Physical Education, followed by introduction of courses pertaining to Sports Science, Sports Medicine and Sports Psychology.The minister apprised Lt Gen Cheema regarding his recent meeting with legendary athlete Sebestian Coe, whom he had requested to send a team of professionals to help in establishing a world-class sports university at Patiala.Rana Sodhi also informed Cheema that the VC of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar Dr. Jaspal Singh will work as Chief Advisor for the Sports University.It is worthwhile to mention that Lt. Gen Jagbir Singh Cheema was commissioned on 9th June 1979 and superannuated on 30th Nov 2017 as Deputy Chief of Army Staff (DCOAS) (Information System and Training).
He is a keen sportsman, who as DCOAS had streamlined the Army Sports Policy to create a competency-based ecosystem with emphasis on optimising scientific coaching, sports science and psychological conditioning to produce qualitatively superior sportsperson.Lt. Gen Cheema was awarded a Blue and a Half Blue in Cross-Country and Athletics respectively in the NDA, and was adjudged the Best Sportsman of the Course in the IMA and awarded the prestigious ‘SIKH REGIMENT GOLD MEDAL’ – the highest award for all-around excellence in Sports.He was also the ‘Best Athlete’ for securing the first position in 800, 1500 and 5000 metres and was awarded a ‘Blue’ in Athletics and Cross Country as a playing member of the Squadron/Company teams in Hockey, Football and Basketball.Lt. Gen. Cheema was also associated with Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYAS), Sports Authority of India (SAI) and National Sports Federations, Target Olympic Podium (TOP) Scheme and the Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ) and Services Sports Control Board (SSCB). He provided tremendous impetus to promoting scientific coaching, sports science and psychological conditioning of sportsmen by employing international coaches, conditioners and psychologists at the Army Sports Institute (ASI) and Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU), Mission Olympic and Army Sports Nodes and Boys Sports Companies (BSCs).