Asian Games gold medallist will play for Punjab now
AMRITSAR: Triple jumper Arpinder Singh who ended India’s 48-yearlong wait for a gold medal at the recent Asian Games held in Jakarta, is all set to start playing for Punjab now. Arpinder and his family paid obeisance at the Golden Temple on Sunday.
The 25-year-old from Harsha Chhina village of Amritsar had been playing for Haryana since 2014. He had left Punjab and shifted to Sonepat when he ‘didn’t get due honour’ even after winning a bronze medal in the 2014 Commonwealth Games. He had also been praising the sports policy of Haryana government.
With a bronze medal in his kitty, Arpinder created history by becoming the first Indian to win a medal in the World Continental Championship on September 9.After winning at the Asian Games, Arpinder had visited Bhatgaon village in Sonepat where he had been living with his sister Jagroop Kaur and her husband Vikas.
Arpinder said, “The state government presented me a reward of ₹1 crore and offered a job of DSP, following which I decided to play for Punjab .” Punjab CM CaptainAm arin der Sing hon October 11 had presented sports awards worth ₹15.55 crore to 23 Common Wealth and Asian Games winners, including Arpinder.
He said, “I am preparing for next year’s Asian Track and Field games, World Championship and Olympics 2020. My main target is to get a medal in Olympics.”
Arpinder’s father Jagbir Singh said that he is proud of his son and that he started practising at an early age.