Chandigarh: The Department of Physical Education, Panjab University, celebrated the National Sports Day by organizing three sports events, starting with mini marathon cross country for men and women from Panjab University grounds at 6.30 am. The runners took a round of residential areas of PU campus and spread awareness about National Sports Day. They carried placards with slogans such as Sports Promote Friendship, Peace and Help in the development of the Nation’s Health.
The race was flagged off by India hockey star Rajpal Singh. He briefed about the importance of sports for the promotion of health of the nation and for enhancing the prestige of the nation at international level. “Developed countries pay more emphasis on mass sports participation and that is why they achieve pinnacles in sports at international level,” he said.
He also gave away prizes to the winners of various events. The department also organized an Olympia Quiz Competition for the university students. The purpose was to make students aware about Olympic history, Beijing Games and its heroes, so that students get motivated and start participating in sports.
In continuation of National Sports Day celebrations, the department of physical education organized a six-a-side soccer competition by inviting different teams of the university.
GS Brar, chairman, department of physical education, highlighted the importance of National Sports Day by quoting few examples of Dhyan Chand on whose birthday National Sports Day is being celebrated. He lauded the qualities of Dhyan Chand such as hard work, dedication, honesty, humbleness and patriotism and asked the students to follow them so that India can produce many national sports heroes.
To mark the occasion, girls of Government College for Girls, Sector 42, also took part in ‘Run For Fun’, a mini marathon organised by the Department of Physical Education of the college.
MANJEET LEFT OUT
Among the distinguished sports personalities and officials who had gathered at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium on the occasion, Manjeet Singh, quarterfinalist in rowing at Beijing Olympics and one of the awardees, was conspicuous by his absence. Manjeet and his partner had for the first time reached the final ‘C’ of lightweight double scull event.
On Thursday, during a press conference at Sector 42 Sports Complex, IS Sandhu had confirmed that Manjeet was to be honoured and would receive a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh. On being asked why the rower was not among the awardees, Sandhu said Manjeet’s name was omitted at the last minute. “Since sports day is marked on the anniversary of Dhyan Chand, so it was decided to honour only outstanding hockey players,” he said. However, Manjeet, speaking from his Kishengarh residence, said, “I was invited to the awards ceremony on Thursday evening by the sports department. I was thrilled as it is the first time that the administration is honouring me. But a few hours later I was informed by the department that my name had been deleted from the list. I am disappointed by the action of the UT sports department as some sections of the media on Friday mentioned that I was among those being honoured,” he added. Later, Sandhu said another ceremony will be held soon to honour Manjeet and judoka Divya Tomar.