PUNJAB CM SEEKS RATNA FOR HOCKEY LEGEND BALBIR SR WOMEN’S INDIAN Morgan to defend title

Chandigarh, Aug. 22: Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking the country’s highest civillian honour — the Bharat Ratna — for hockey legend Balbir Singh Sr.

Amarinder, in his letter to Modi on Wednesday, called the 95-year-old legend, an outstanding sportsperson of his era.

“I wish to draw your attention to the subject cited (award of Bharat Ratna to Balbir Sr) and request to award Bharat Ratna to Shri Balbir Singh Sr, one of the most respectful and outstanding sportspersons of India since Independence,” wrote Amarinder.

“Shri Balbir Singh has been an outstanding sportsperson in the field of hockey and was part of the Indian team that won gold medals in Olympic games of 1948, 1952 and 1956. He was also the captain of the Indian team in 1956 Olympics.

“As a recognition to his contribution, Shri Balbir Singh (Sr) has already Balbir Singh Sr

been awarded the Padma Shri in 1957. I strongly recommend and request you to consider awarding Bharat Ratna to Shri Balbir Singh (Sr),” he further wrote.

Amarinder later tweeted: “Wrote to PM@NarendraModi ji, requesting to award Bharat Ratna to Shri Balbir Singh (Sr) for his outstanding performance in Hockey. He was a 3 time Olympic gold champion having played an imp role in 1948,1952 & Captain of 1956 win. He is the greatest ever centre-forward.”

His world record for most goals scored by an individual in the men’s hockey final in an Olympic Games still remains unbeaten. Welsh golfer Becky Morgan will be back to defend her Hero Women’s Indian Open crown to be held at the Gary Player layout of the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurugram from October 3 to 6, it was announced here on Thursday.

The $ 500,000 prize purse tournament that began in 2007, became a part of the Ladies European Tour in 2009 and since then has grown in stature with each passing year. For the second consecutive year, the Hero Women’s Indian Open will be played over 72 holes in four days that will be telecast live globally.

The players’ entries for the tournament have begun pouring in and indications of a strong field once again are visible with Solheim Cup players, including the current captain, Catriona Matthew, in the Indian golfers Tvesa Malik (from left) Neha Tripathi and Amandeep Drall pose with Indian Open trophy in New Delhi on Thursday. — BIPLAB BANERJEE

fray. With plenty of time before the entry window closes, the field is likely to keep growing stronger.

Other leading international participants include Beth Allen and Becky Brewerton, both former LET Order of Merit winners. Other LET winners such as Meghan MacLaren,

Marianne Skarpnord, Kanyalak Preedasuttijit, Astrid Vayson de Pradenne, Florentyna Parker and Linda Wessberg will also be in the fray.

The field will include Indian from the domestic and the leading also stars tour amateurs.