Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday announced a cash prize of Rs 40 lakh for weightlifter Harjinder Kaur who bagged the bronze medal in the ongoing Commonwealth games at Birmingham (United Kingdom).In a statement issued here today, the Chief Minister, while congratulating Harjinder Kaur, said that this budding player from village Mehas near Nabha has made the country proud by this rare feat.
He said that the state government will give cash prize worth Rs 40 lakh to her as per the Sports Policy of Punjab. Bhagwant Mann expressed the hope that this achievement of Harjinder Kaur will inspire the other players especially the girls to excel in the fields of sports and bring laurels to the country.
The Chief Minister further said that state government is committed to encouraging those who excel in the field of sports, adding, that these players will be given cash prizes whenever they do well. He said that reviving sports culture in Punjab is the topmost priority of the state Government.
Bhagwant Mann said that sports can act as a catalyst to wean the youth of state from the menace of drugs by channelizing their unbounded energy in a positive direction.The Chief Minister also said that students in educational institutions will also be motivated to take up sports as a character building exercise.
He said that sports not only develops one's overall personality but also inculcates the leadership qualities of self discipline and sportsman spirit amongst them to become ideal citizens of the society. Bhagwant Mann said that Punjabis have a long association with sports as many sportspersons from the state have carved a niche for themselves in national and international events adding that concerted efforts will be made to ensure that Punjab soon becomes a front runner state in field of sports across the country.