Sportsman spirit at Singhu, many join from abroad

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 31

International kabaddi players, wrestlers, footballers and basketball players, some of whom returned from abroad, havebeen taking turns to serve the farmers from day one at the Singhu border.

An accommodation to house 1,500 people, a langar feeding people three times a day along with snacks all through the day include the facilities the state’s sportspersons have been offering.

From November 27 when the initial ‘jathas’ of farmers were just heading to Singhu, three sportspersons from Punjab were busy setting up langar and a place to stay for the congregation at the border. While Tony Sandhu, former footballer; Mangi Bagga, former Captain of Indian kabaddi team; and Manjinder Singh, international kabaddi player, were the first to set things up, a bustling stream of international and Indian sports luminaries from the US, UK, Seechewal, Ludhiana and Tarn Taran also lined up to offer sewa. They wash clothes and cook food for the ‘sangat’.

Sandeep Singh from Nangal Ambian, an international kabaddi player, returned from England to come to Singhu. Satnam Singh Bhamra, NBA player, postponed his trip to the US to serve the farmers. Other players who have offered sewa at the langar as well as laundry and accommodation include former Indian kabaddi team members Sukha Bhandal and Nanni Gopalpur, international kabaddi players Khushi Duggal, Manjot Machiwara, Sultan and Jagga Chitti, international wrestler Jassa Patti, Asian silver medallist Amandeep Hothi, Nek Mullapur, among others.

Earning respect among farmers, Tony was even a part of farmers’ deliberations at Singhu on the future course of the agitation. For the New Year, a langar and an evening of music from singer Jazzy B is what the players have in store.