(Blurb) Roadshow from Jalandhar’s BSF Chowk to Model Town and Mithapur Village in honour of the players
Players of the Punjab national hockey team, who won a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics after beating Spain 2-1, received a hero’s welcome when they landed at the Sri Guru Ramdas Jee International Airport on Sunday morning.
Cabinet Ministers Harbhajan Singh ETO and Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal along with officials of Hockey Punjab, family members and fans extended a warm welcome to team captain Harmanpreet Singh, vice-captain Hardik Singh Rai, Manpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh, Shamsher Singh, Mandeep Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Sukhjit Singh and Jugraj Singh.
Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla and former Indian hockey captain Pargat Singh (Congress MP) were also present. “We are very happy that our players have removed the stigma of drug addiction through their remarkable performance in the game,” said Harbhajan Singh, ETO.
The Jalandhar district administration had provided special dholis at the airport to welcome the members of the Indian team, which won two consecutive medals at the Olympic Games after a gap of 50 years.
The players also went to the Golden Temple where they were greeted by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President Harjinder Singh Dhami and other office bearers and officials. The SGPC felicitated them with a replica of the Golden Temple, Siropa (robe of honour) and a set of books on the Sikh faith.
After paying his obeisances, Harmanpreet said, “With the grace of the Guru, we have achieved victory in the Olympics.”
In his village Timmowal near Jandiala Guru, the team captain was warmly welcomed by the villagers amidst the sound of dhol.
Four of the players – Manpreet, Mandeep, Hardik and Sukhjeet – hailed from Jalandhar and were again given a great welcome after reaching the district amid heavy rain. Hockey fans had organised a special roadshow from BSF Chowk to Model Town and Mithapur village, known as the hockey nursery. Families also accompanied the players in the procession.
Manpreet said it was a great moment for all the players and their families to be given such a welcome. “Our aim was to win gold. We tried our best but narrowly lost to Germany in the semifinals. We will work hard to fulfil our dream of winning the gold medal at the next Games,” he added.
The state, considered the hotbed of the game, had a maximum of eight players in the 16-member squad. In addition, Punjab had two players on the reserve list, so the state now has 10 players.
