Abhinav Bindra to be honoured at Nanded

Fatehgarh Sahib, Oc 29 (UNI) India's 10-meter air pistol gold medalist at Beijing, Abhinav Bindra will be honoured at the Guru Gobind Singh Khalsai Sports Festival to be held on October 31 and November one at Nanded on the occasion of the tercentinary of Guru-da-Gaddi.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has completed all arrangements for the two day event.

The games will include, 'Gatka' the Sikh martial art and Punjabs traditional sports like wrestling and kabaddi besides tent pegging.

The games will be conducted under the patronage of Takhat Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnager Sahib, Nanded (Maharastra), SGPC Director Education, Dr Gurmohan Singh Walia said here today.

SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar who is in Nanded had already taken stock of all arrangements.

He said organising committee for the sports festival includes, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Dr P S Pasricha Singh, Kanwarjit Singh Sandhu and Dalmegh Singh.

Dr Walia informed that Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will be chief guest at the opening ceremony. Punjab's folk dances and songs will form the opening ceremony.

The opening day kabaddi matches will include a match between Punjab and Pakistan.

On this occasion ten international players,including Flying Sikh, Milkha Singh, Beijing gold medalist shooter Abhinav Bhindra, hockey players Ajitpal Singh and Pargat Singh, cricketer Bishan Singh Bedi, Onkar Singh , wrestler Kartar Singh and national boxing chief coach G S Sandhu will be honoured.

Dr Walia said on the second day, Maharastra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patel will be chief guest while Ashok Chohan, Minister for Industries, Tourism, Maharastra will be the guest of honour.

Gatka and tent pegging events will be presented by Nihangs on the second day, besides there will be wrestling bouts and kabaddi matches. Union Sports Minister Manohar Singh Gill be chief guest at the closing ceremony and he would distribute prizes to the participants.

UNI XC HS MMS1837