Ranjit Singh award for 67 sportspersons

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Deputy chief minister of Punjab Sukhbir Singh Singh Badal poses along with the recepients at the Maharaja Ranjit Singh awards ce

Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal launched a major initiative to provide job for outstanding players of the state by setting aside 125 appointments every year exclusively for national and international players.

Addressing the athletes at a function organised to confer the Maharaja Ranjit Singh awards in Chandigarh, Badal recalled that he had thought of introducing this award after seeing the deplorable condition of a former Olympian.
Horrified by the former player’s condition he announced `1 lakh award for a maximum of 15 players annually with the social security set-up.
As many as 67 outstanding sportspersons from different sports disciplines were conferred the highest state sports award. The prestigious award, instituted in 1978, carries a cash prize money of `2 lakh, a trophy, a blazer, a tie and a scroll of honour.