In the Hangzhou Asian Games, 33 players from Punjab won a total of 19 medals including 8 Gold, 6 Silver and 5 Bronze medals, making the state's name shine on the international sports map by showing the best performance so far in the 72-year history of the Asian Games.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann will honor the medal winners who have put the state back on the sports map, with cash prizes during a special function soon after all the players return to the country.
Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said this while welcoming and honouring the players who won medals in the Hangzhou Asian Games i.e. Sift Samra, Tajinder Pal Singh Toor and Harmilan Bains at Faridkot and Patiala respectively.
The Sports Minister went to the Faridkot residence of Sift Samra, who won one Gold and one Silver medal, this morning, and congratulated the rifle shooter on behalf of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. In the evening, Meet Hayer welcomed and honoured Tejinder Pal Singh Toor, who won the Gold medal for the second time in a row in shot put and Harmilan Bains, who won two Silver medals in 800 and 1500 meters, on their arrival in Patiala.
On this occasion, Harmilan's mother Arjuna awardee Madhuri Amandeep Singh was also honoured. Meet Hayer said that the today Indian men Cricket team also won Gold Medal. Arshdeep Singh and Prabhsimran Singh of Punjab are in this team.
He said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann had provided an amount of Rs. 4.64 Crore for the preparation of the games for the first time for the purpose of preparing the sportsmen of the state for international level competitions, which has brought very positive results and Out of 48 players from Punjab participating in the Games, 33 players won a total of 19 medals including 8 Gold, 6 Silver and 5 Bronze medals.
On the occasion of the two receptions today, Ghanour MLA and international Kabaddi player Gurlal Ghanour, Sannour MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, Faridkot MLA Gurdit Singh Sekhon, Ferozepur MLA Ranbir Singh Bhullar, Olympian Avneet Kaur Sidhu, Olympian Harwant Kaur, Former DGP Rajdeep Singh Gill, Deputy Commissioner Patiala Sakshi Sahni, SSP Faridkot Harjit Singh, Deputy Director Sports Parminder Singh Sidhu, District Sports Officers Baljinder Singh and Harpinder Singh Gaggi were present along with a large number of sports fans and players.