On the occasion of awarding the state’s sporting excellence award, Bhim, Haryana State Government has awarded grassroot coach Baldev Singh Rs.10 lac and also two years extension in service. He is presently with the Haryana Sports department as Deputy Diretor and was to have been retired from the services in two month’s time.

Baldev has nearly produced 30 international women hockey players in the past decade, and took Haryana to excellence in the Senior National Championship as well. His ward Joydeep Kaur was, on the same occasion, conferred with ‘Bhim’.

The Haryana Government today appointed six outstanding sportspersons of the state as Inspectors of Police under sports quota.

This was announced during the function held at Raj Bhawan here, today when Bhim Awards were conferred upon six sportspersons. Besides, 10 other sportspersons were also honoured for their contribution in the sports field.

The following got the Bhim Award: Vijender (Bhiwani -boxing), Manoj Kumar (Rohtak-shooting), Bhupinder Singh (Faridabad-athletics), Joydeep Kaur (Shahbad-hockey), Meena Devi (Bhiwani-wrestling). Each recipient of Bhim Award was given Rs. 1 lakh in cash, an idol of Bhim, a scroll, a blazer and a tie or a scarf.

The other 10 outstanding players, who were honoured for their outstanding performance included boxers Sunil Kumar (Bhiwani) and Chhotu Lora (Hisar) and wrestler Narender (Sonepat). Each of them was awarded Rs. 1 lakh in cash. The two volleyball players who were given Rs 61,000 each in cash included Gurpreet Singh and Sube Singh of Panchkula.

Another volleyball player (Sanjay Kumar), Kabaddi player (Ramesh Kumar) and Judo player Parwinder Kumar got 51,000 in cash each.

In all, Rs 24.75 lakh were awarded in cash to the sportsperson, a Deputy Director of Haryana, Sports and Youth Affairs department and a mountaineer.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda also announced to give two-year extension in service to Deputy Director, Hockey, Baldev Singh for imparting excellent training to women hockey players which resulted in winning gold medal at 18th Commonwealth Games at Melbourne in 2006.

Baldev was also honoured with Rs 10 lakh in cash in recognition of his services to the game of hockey.