By Amrit Pal Sidhu Babushahi Network
Bathinda, June 10:
Reiterating the Punjab Government’s commitment to fostering a vibrant sports culture, Deputy Commissioner Bathinda, Rajesh Dhiman, today interacted with four distinguished sports persons from the district who were recently honoured with the prestigious Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award.
The awards were conferred upon 87 outstanding athletes by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann during a state-level ceremony held recently in recognition of their exceptional achievements and contribution to sports.
During the interaction, the Deputy Commissioner congratulated Avneet Kaur, Harshdeep Singh, Avtar Singh and Manpreet Kaur for bringing pride and recognition to Bathinda through their remarkable performances at national and international platforms.
He said that the Punjab Government is making dedicated efforts to promote sports and channel the energy of the younger generation towards constructive activities by encouraging greater participation in sporting events. He added that Punjab has a rich sporting legacy and has consistently produced athletes who have excelled at national and international levels.
Highlighting the government's initiatives, Sh. Dhiman said that programmes such as the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Awards and Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan have provided a major boost to sports development in the state.
Along with honouring athletes through awards, the government is also supporting them through employment opportunities and cash incentives. He further informed that Punjab is set to host the upcoming Asian Hockey Championship, which will further strengthen the state's sporting ecosystem.
The awardees who met the Deputy Commissioner included international archer Avneet Kaur from Sardargarh village, judoka Harshdeep Singh from Lala Singh Nagar, Bathinda, water sports athlete Avtar Singh from Sangat Mandi, and kabaddi player Manpreet Kaur from Bandi village.
The Deputy Commissioner also noted that two other international water sports (rowing) athletes from Bathinda district, Charanjit Singh of Nangla village and Jasveer Singh of Laleana village, have also been conferred the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award.
However, they could not attend the interaction as they are currently participating in sporting events outside the state.
Encouraging the athletes to continue striving for excellence, Sh. Dhiman urged them to remain focused, disciplined and dedicated to their training. He advised them to stay humble despite their achievements and continue setting higher goals to bring further glory to Punjab and the nation.
District Sports Officer Rupinder Singh Brar was also present on the occasion