Punjab govt recommends Palwinder for Rajiv Khel Ratna Award

Chandigarh, June 2 (UNI) Ace grappler Palwinder Sigh Cheema's name has been recommended by the Punjab government for the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award for 2006.

The state government has also recommended eight names for Arjuna awards and six for Dhyan Chand Awards.

According to Punjab Sports Director Pargat Singh, the names recommended for the various awards have been sent to the Director Sports, Government of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, New Delhi.

Olympian and Arjuna Awardee Cheema has been the winner of scores of medals in international competitions.

Kanwalpreet Singh and Prabhjot Singh (both hockey) are among the eight outstanding players of Punjab who have been recommended for the Arjuna Awards.

Other recommendations are of Gurwinder Singh, Vicky Batta (both weightlifters), Manjit Kaur, Bahadur Singh and Jagdish Kumar Bishnoi (all athletics) and Harpal Singh (boxing).

Former international shooter and press attache to the Indian contingent in Sydney Olympics and a member of the 2010 Commonwealth Games to be hosted by India, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, Sukhchain Singh Cheema (wrestling), Mukhbain Singh , Ajit Singh, Col Balbir Singh (hockey) and Late Dr P M Das (mountaineering) have been recommended for the Dhyan Chand awards.

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