CM Mann honours 1975 Hockey World Cup winners in Chandigarh

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, a self-proclaimed sports lover, arrived 1.43 hours late to a function meant to felicitate the 1975 Hockey World Cup-winning players and honour winners of the 38th National Games, Khelo India Para Games, Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan and Para Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan.

Veteran hockey players, including Ajit Pal Singh, Brigadier Harcharan Singh, HJS Chimni, Onkar Singh, and Ashok Deewan, were honoured during the event.

Ajit Pal Singh skipped the event due to health concerns, while family members of former players Surjit Singh, Mohinder Singh, Varinder Singh, BS Bodhi, and Balbir Singh (Senior) attended on their behalf.

The function which was announced to start from 1pm, started soon after the Chief Minister reached the dais by 2.43pm. The players were called for the same function between 10-11am. The delay reportedly occurred because CM Mann interacted with the 1975 Hockey World Cup-winning players at his residence before the event.

“The organisers should have called us by that time only. We have already received the amount even before the start of the event, but we have to sit. Also, we were allowed to sit inside the hall, but many parents were not allowed,” said a player from Ferozepur. The story of other players was no different.

Despite the long wait, the players were pleased with their cash rewards. Even the para players, who were waiting at the top row of the Sector 35 Punjab Municipal Bhawan auditorium, kept waiting for the function to start. The Chief Minister felicitated the players of 1975 Indian Hockey team and disbursed cash prize worth Rs 3.99 crore to 107 players who had recently participated in National Games and Rs 9.65 crore to players who had won medals in Khedan Watan Punjab Dian and Para Kheda Watan Punjab Diyan. On the occasion the veteran Hockey players who had participated in 1975 world cup also presented a hockey with their autograph to the Chief Minister.

You deserve more, says CM

Meanwhile, addressing the attendees, the Chief Minister said the government is committed to promote sports and state sports persons, and the cash rewards were not huge, as the players deserve more. “Don’t think this is the end. This is just a ‘small’ thing (in front of achievements), you all deserve more. Bring more laurels for the state, and you will be honoured with even bigger awards.”