Gold medallist Sumit Antil returns to rousing welcome at Sonepat village

Mukesh Tandon

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Tribune News Service

Sonepat, September 4

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday felicitated Paralympic gold medallist javelin thrower Sumit Antil at his native Khewra village of Sonepat.

Khattar also announced to open a new ITI and a sports stadium in Sumit’s Khewra village. Sumit bagged the gold in the F64 category and created a new world record by throwing the javelin at 68.55 m in the Tokyo Paralympics.

Family members and villagers organised a victory procession on motorcycles, cars, tractors and other vehicles from Sector 4 to Khewra village. They danced to dhol beats, burst crackers and showered flower petals on him during the procession.

Overwhelmed with the grand gesture, Sumit said it was unbelievable that people would accord him such a rousing welcome.

Besides the CM, Sports Minister Sandeep Singh felicitated him at a programme held in DPS in Khewra village on Saturday evening. MP Ramesh Kaushik, MLAs Mohan Badoli, Nirmal Chaudhary and other leaders also congratulated him.

The CM said the state players had made a record this time. “Of 17 medals won at Tokyo, six have been won by the state players.”

“The government is going to open 500 sports nurseries in schools and coaches will be appointed to nurture the sportspersons since childhood. Also, the ‘Khelo India’ games will be organised in the state next year,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Sports Minister said: “Winners are not made in a day. A lot of hard work by the player along with years of struggle by the family and coaches goes behind the success of a player.”