Bronze winning hockey team players accorded warm welcome in Amritsar

Neeraj Bagga

Amritsar, August 11

Ignoring downpour, the family members, fans and politicians accorded a warm welcome to the members of the bronze winning Indian hockey team from the 2024 Paris Olympics as soon as they came out of the departure lounge of Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport in Amritsar on Sunday morning.

As many as 10 players from Punjab were included in the hockey team which clinched the second bronze medal in succession. Out of them, nine players arrived in the holy city today. These players were captain Harmanpreet Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Manpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Hardik Singh, Sukhjit Singh, Gurjant Singh, Shamsher Singh and Jugraj Singh.

The coach of the team and the family members of the players were also with them.

Amidst the beats of ‘dhols’ and garlanding by fans, ministers extended them a floral welcome.  

They were taken to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple where SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami felicitated them with a model of Sachkhand Harmandar Sahib, religious books and ‘Siropas’. 

Dhami said that it is a matter of honour and pride for entire Punjab that there has been a full participation of players from the state in the Indian hockey team. He congratulated them for this achievement and prayed for more big achievements in future. Dhami exhorted youth that they should take inspiration from these players and join sports. He informed that the Sikh organisation has always been encouraging sportsmen. Dhami gave special mention to the Sabat Surat Gur Sikh player Jarmanpreet who also played for the Indian hockey team.

Harmanpreet Singh said that he felt blessed to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple with his teammates. 

He added that this achievement was possible by the team only due to the blessings of Guru Sahib and he prayed for better performance of the team in future.

Harmanpreet expressed his gratitude for the respect and honour bestowed by the SGPC.

Earlier, MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla, cabinet ministers Harbhajan Singh ETO and Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, besides MLA Pargat Singh, received the players at the airport and congratulated them.