Int’l medallists seek better infra for state players

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, October 15

Jarkarta Asian Games gold medal winner in triple jump Arpinder Singh on Monday said he always wanted to play for Punjab and a few matches he played from Punjab as well initiated, but due to poor sports infrastructure in Punjab, he started playing from Haryana.

Talking to mediapersons, Arpinder Singh said from national school games in 2007 till 2016, he played and represented Punjab, but due to lack of sports infrastructure here, he shifted to Haryana.

Arpinder said at present he is working with ONGC and with the new state sports policy made under the state Sports Minister Rana Gurmeet Sodhi, we are hopeful that players would get better environment for sports.

He also stated that impressed by the new sports policy, from next competition he will represent and play from Punjab and even sports minister has also assured him of a government job in Punjab.

Commonwealth Games bronze medal winner in discus throw Navjot Kaur Dhillon said she is working with income tax department at Chennai. She demanded that Punjab players should be given jobs in the state only.

She demanded for better sports infrastructure at district level for players across the state. She also advocated that only sportspersons should be appointed in sports associations and sports department because they only know the problems of the players in and out and they can work and guide bidding sportspersons better.

Even Jarkarta Asian games gold medal winner in shot put Tejinderpal Singh Toor also appreciated the new sports policy of the state. He said during recently held Asian games his father was suffering from cancer disease, but he along with coach main aim and focus was to win gold for his country and he succeeded in this.