Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday felicitated five players from the state, who have been included in Indian hockey team for London Olympic Games starting from July 27.
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Punjabi players Gurvinder Singh Chandi (Jalandhar), Dharmvir Singh (Ropar), Gurbaz Singh (Zira) and Manjeet Singh (Jalandhar) have been included in the Indian squad while Sarwanjit Singh (Batala) has been kept standby.
Extending his good wishes to all the Punjabi players participating in London Olympics, Badal announced Rs two crore cash prize to each Olympic gold medal winner.
Badal, who is Sports Minister and President Hockey Punjab, said that Punjabis have a great passion for hockey and always played a significant role in Indian hockey team's achievements at international level.
He said that Punjab has maximum players of five in Indian squad for London Olympics, more than any other state.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the Punjab government was committed to promote sports in the state in a bigger way.
He said that the SAD-BJP combine government has set up 14 world-class stadiums with six hockey astroturfs, including two blue and pink one which is being used in London Olympics.