Students, educators, sportspersons awarded on R-Day function in Amritsar

Punjab Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Investment Promotion, Labour, Hospitality, Industry and Commerce, and Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Tarunpreet Singh Saundh along with Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney led the Republic Day function held at Guru Nanak Stadium here on Sunday. Among the recipients of the special honours and awards, were four youngsters, students from district, whose achievements in the field of education, sports and innovation were rewarded.

Avleen Kaur, 10, a rising chess star from Amritsar received a special honour for her achievement of winning and qualifying for 13th National School Chess Championship held in 2024. Sakshi Sawhney assured support for her game. Kunal Puri, a student of senior secondary, was awarded for his display of leadership and entrepreneurial skills as he represented Amritsar at the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue in New Delhi. Mangat Singh, a student of Class 10 of the Government Senior Secondary Smart School, Attari, was honoured for his excellent academic performance and Jaspreet Kaur, a Class 10 student was honoured for excelling in a long distance run (1,500mts to 3,000mtrs).

Eight cricketers from Pehal, a government resource centre for children with special needs, Karampura, were also given awards for excelling in sports. Two national level boxers from Amritsar, Vansh Sharma and Sartaj Singh, were given felicitated on the occasion.

Dr Gurjit Singh, Vice Principal, Chief Khalsa Diwan Institute of Management and Technology, was among the 10 educators, who received awards for their contribution to the field of education.

Dr Gurjit Singh has 10 patents in the field of computer science. His 60 research papers were published in national and international journals and he had written 21 books.

Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney announced a new initiative to honour the families of martyred soldiers of the district. The families of five soldiers from the district, who were martyred on the border, were honoured by Saundh.

It was also the first time that children with special needs, including those from Pehal resource centre at Karampura and Bhagat Puran Singh Pingalwara, were invited to participate in the Republic Day function. Hearing impaired students from Bhagat Puran Singh Adarsh School, Pingalwara, performed the National Anthem in sign language.