Shooting stars Manu, Sarabjot make city proud again

Olympic medallists Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh, both students of DAV College, Sector 10, have been selected for the national sports awards.

While double Olympic-medallist Manu has been chosen for Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award, the Sports Ministry, in an announcement on Thursday, named Sarabjot for Arjuna Award.

Both Manu and Sarabjot completed their master's degree in public administration from DAV College. Manu is now pursuing PG diploma in mass communication and Sarabjot PG diploma in marketing in the same college. Last October, Panjab University had conducted special examinations for both shooters as they were busy in the Paris Olympic Games.

The 22-year-old Manu became independent India’s first athlete to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympics with her bronze-winning show in the 10m air pistol individual and 10m air pistol mixed team events in August.

Sarabjot, whose Olympic debut campaign started by missing out on a place in the men’s 10m air pistol individual final by a whisker, later won the team bronze medal along with Manu.

Earlier, Sarabjot had won gold medals at the World Championships, Asian Games and the ISSF World Cup.

Meanwhile, hockey defender Sanjay, a former trainee of the Chandigarh Hockey Academy, will also be conferred with Arjuna Award. Sanjay, who started his career here under coach Gumrinder Singh, was part of the Indian team that won bronze medal in the Paris Olympics.

Boxer Nitu Ghanghas, who will also be conferred with Arjuna Award, also has a city connection as her father was an employee at the Haryana Assembly. Nitu spent her initial days in the city and was enrolled in Guru Gobind Singh College, Sector 26, before moving to Haryana. The highlight of her career was twin world championships gold medals.

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four years, whereas Arjuna Award is given for good performance over a period of four years and for showing qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline.

The Khel Ratna awardees receive a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh along with a citation and a medallion. The Arjuna awardees are given Rs 15 lakh cash reward, a statuette of Arjuna and a citation. The awards will be conferred on the athletes by President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17.

Meanwhile, Chandigarh University (CU), Gharuan in Mohali district, made a debut in the national sports awards by bagging the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy (MAKA).

The overall top performing university in Khelo India University Games is given the MAKA Trophy. In 2023 Khelo India University Games held across seven north-eastern states, Chandigarh University claimed the title with a haul of 32 gold medals.

They also won 18 silver and 21 bronze medals. As per the KIUG format, the team with the most gold medals wins the title. University's Vikash (men's 1500m) had set the new record in the event. The university had finished 34th in the first edition in Odisha, and 20th in the second edition.