CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday announced that the state government would soon work out modalities for providing jobs to the medallists and asked the state chief secretary to examine the matter on top priority before taking a final decision.
In his address to honour the Olympic medallists and participants of Tokyo Olympics 2020 with cash prize of Rs 28.36 crore at a ceremony in Punjab Bhawan, the chief minister said Punjab has rewritten the history in the sporting annals of the country.
The chief minister of Punjab along with Punjab governor V P Singh Badnore also transferred the prize money online in the accounts of the Olympic medallists and participants.
As a token of respect and gratitude, the women hockey players presented a hockey stick to the chief minister with signatures of its entire team members.
In recognition of the performance of state players in the Olympics, chief minister Amarinder announced that his government will ame schools and approach roads leading to their native villages after the names of players. He also asked PWD and school education minister Vijay Inder Singla to identify such schools and roads so as to give due honour to players who made every Punjabi proud.
On the occasion, the chief minister promoted the men’s hockey captain Manpreet Singh as superintendent of police from DSP in the Punjab Police.
Making a special mention of hockey legend Balbir Singh Senior and iconic athlete Milkha Singh, he said nobody would have been happier than these two stalwarts at this rare achievement. He said the state government would also honour gold medal winner javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, the first ever Indian athlete to achieve the unique accomplishment, having roots in Punjab, who could not make it to the function.
Amarinder had earlier tweeted: "Happy to meet our Olympic superstars during the felicitation ceremony this evening. Have promised them that I will cook for them and will host them for dinner soon. India is proud of all of them."
