New Delhi: As the Union Ministry for Sports and Youth Affairs announced the 2020 National Sports Awards in various categories on August 21, Punjab has bagged a total of nine awards in four categories.
Punjab athletes and coaches were nominated for Arjuna, Dhyan Chand and Tenzing Norgay awards. These awards will be presented to them on the National Sports Day (NSD) on August 29 in a virtual ceremony. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's NSD will be held as a virtual event.
Hockey player Akashdeep Singh has been nominated for prestigious Arjuna award, while Kuldeep Singh Bhullar (Athletics), Ajit Singh (Hockey), Manpreet Singh (Kabaddi), Manjeet Singh (Rowing), Sukhwinder Singh Sandhu (Football) and Lakha Singh (Boxing) would be bestowed upon with Dhyan Chand Awards. Similarly, Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award to be conferred to Col. Sarfraz Singh, son of Col. Balbir Singh Hockey Olympian in the land adventure category, while the Panjab University won the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy (MAKA) as the best performing education institution in sports.
Asked about the national awards, Punjab Sports Minister Rana Gurmeet Sodhi said that sports are flourishing in Punjab and it is evident from the list announced for the coveted national sports awards.
Punjab Government also congratulated the awardees for their marvellous achievements and assured them all kinds of supports for their future competitions.
List of awardees from Punjab
