DT
PT
Subscribe To Print Edition About The Tribune Code Of Ethics Download App Advertise with us Classifieds
search-icon-img
search-icon-img
Advertisement

With love, from Gakhal brothers

  • fb
  • twitter
  • whatsapp
  • whatsapp
Advertisement

Tribune News Service

Advertisement

Jalandhar, August 7

NRI philanthropists Gakhal brothers on Saturday announced Rs11 lakh cash reward for the men and women hockey teams, which brought glory to India in the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

Advertisement

Holding a press conference here on Saturday, the brothers said an amount of Rs5.5 lakh each will be awarded to both teams for their glorious performance during the Olympics.

While they will be awarding a cash prize to the bronze winning men’s Olympics team, they said the decision to award the girls’ team was taken in view of the impressive performance put up by them and because they brought India so close to winning a bronze. They were joined by 1980 Moscow Olympian Surinder Singh Sodhi.

Advertisement

Neeraj Chopra won gold in javelin throw.

Addressing the press, Amolak Singh Gakhal, chairman of Gakhal group, said the award was being dedicated to his grandmother Gurbhag Kaur and mother Gurdev Kaur.

Gakhal brothers Palwinder SIngh Gakhal and Iqbal Singh Gakhal were also present. They said they had earlier announced that Rs11 lakh would be awarded to the Indian Hockey team if it wins gold in the Olympics, but due to the impressive performance of the teams and Gakhal brothers’ own love for the sport and players, they have decided to award both teams.

They lauded the men’s team for the impressive bronze win breaking the 41-year-old hiatus at the Olympics and also the girls, who bagged the fourth spot, thus creating history.

Bajrang Punia won a bronze in wrestling.

Amolak Singh Gakhal said: “We have been sponsoring sportspersons and events but the joy of this year’s Olympics win is special. The teams will be honoured at a special event held in their honour at Gakhal village. This is our mark of love and adoration for players.”

While the Gakhal brothers sponsored and gave Rs6 lakh cash award to the first prize winner at Surjit Hockey Cup, they also sponsored the children’s camp at the Surjit Hockey Society. They had also honoured 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medal winner Abhinav Bindra with a cash award of Rs10 lakh.

Olympian Surinder Singh Sodhi said: “While Hockey was thought to be fading away in the state, the Olympics win of the teams has brought a new lease of life into the game and into the spirit of the state collectively. It is a moment for much celebration for us.”

LPU celebrates students’ achievements at Olympics

Jalandhar: LPU Chancellor Ashok Mittal expressed happiness over athlete Neeraj Chopra winning an Olympics gold on Saturday. Mittal said Chopra is a student (distance education BA) at the Lovely Professional University. Neeraj Chopra created history by winning a gold medal in javelin throw at the Tokyo Olympics. He glorified India by clinching the top Olympics medal after over 100 years of the games. Chopra led the scoreboard with an effort of 87.03 on his first attempt, 87.58 on his second and 76.79 on his third. His win is a golden moment for all Indians, he said. Mittal said on the wrestling side, LPU’s MA public administration distance education student and wrestler Bajrang Punia also defeated his rival Daulet Niyazbekov of Kazakhstan to win a bronze in the Olympics. Mittal said: “The marvellous and exemplary outcomes of LPU athletes at Tokyo Olympics have brought great happiness to the country and LPU.” TNS

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
tlbr_img1 Classifieds tlbr_img2 Videos tlbr_img3 Premium tlbr_img4 E-Paper tlbr_img5 Shorts