Punjab News- Majithia hands over cheque of Rs. 2 lakh to Parul Gupta for representing India in Olympics

Patiala, September 24, 2013: The Punjab government would identify talented sports persons of the state and provide them world class facilities while imparting hi-tech training in various sports academies.

This was stated by Bikram Singh Majithia, Information and Public Relations and Revenue Minister Punjab after presenting a cheque of Rs. 2 lakh to Parul Gupta, Punjab’s first speech and hearing impaired youngest lawn tennis player, who represented India in the Deaf and Dumb Olympics held at Sophia (Bulgaria).

Majithia specially visited Parul’s house to hand over her the   financial aid as recognition to her achievement besides enabling her to go further for the advanced training in the field of lawn tennis ,she intended to have.

Speaking on the occasion, Majithia congratulated the parents of Parul Gupta for her remarkable participation in Olympics. He also assured them that the state government would extend all possible help to their daughter to impart quality training in her chosen sports. He also said that the young player has brought laurels not only to Punjab but also to India at the International level and the entire country was proud of her.

It may be mentioned here that International level lawn tennis player Parul Gupta had participated in Deaf and Dumb Olympics at Sophia, Bulgaria from July 26 to August 6 this year after getting specialized training from Performance Academy Bangluru. She had won gold medals in 18th National Lawn Tennis Championship for Deaf and Dumb held in April 2013 at Aurangabad in Maharashtra and the First National Lawn Tennis Championship for Deaf and Dumb held at NIS Patiala in July 2012. Besides this, she had won Silver Medal at Punjab School Women Championship at October 2011 and 57th National School Games in December 2011. She had also participated in 4th National Deaf Women Championship held at Ajmer in April 2012 and 56th National Games at Pune in June 2011. Now Parul has set a target of representing her country and winning more medals in the forthcoming U.S. World Open Lawn Tennis Championship for deaf and dumb to be held in 2014 and Deaf and Dumb Olympics slated to be held in Istanbul in 2017.

Speaking to the media at the residence of Parul, Majithia said that after implementing a comprehensive sports policy, the state has set up ample basic infrastructure for sports by spending more than Rs. 200 crores. He also said that the sportspersons would get sufficient recognition in their sports activities besides getting reservation in the government jobs as the state has been implementing 3 percent quota. Adding further, he said that the Government has honored the winners of Asian and Commonwealth games with cash prizes of Rs 7.54 crores and Rs. 6.50 crore were given as a prize money to the winner team of 3rd World Cup Kabbadi   and a special prize was given of Rs. 51 Lakh, Rs. 31 Lakh and Rs. 21 Lakh to the three top teams of women category.

Majithia also said that with a view to encourag the sportspersons, the cash amount for Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award has been enhanced from Rs. 1 Lakh to Rs. 2 Lakh and as many as 67 sports persons have been given Rs. 1.34 crore recently. Sports Academies with world class infrastructure have also been set up in the state for imparting training to the sportspersons.

Overwhelmed with the gesture of the Punjab government, father of Parul, Avinash Gupta who is working as a Bio-Chemist in the Punjab Power Corporation and mother Madhu Gupta who is teaching in Y.P.S. School Patiala expressed their gratitude to Majithia. Surjit Singh Rakhra, Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Punjab, Dr. Sukhdeep Singh Boparai, Dr. Sudhir Verma, Dr. Navin Saronwala, Rajeshwar Dhundia, G.K. Singh Deputy Commissioner and Hardayal Singh Mann, Senior Superintendent of Police along with other senior officers of district Patiala were also present on the occasion.