Sukhbir felicitates Punjab Women hockey players for winning gold in National Games

Chandigarh, February 11, 2015: Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today congratulated the Punjab Women Hockey team for winning a gold medal in the 35th National Games held at Kerala.

In a statement issued here Badal, , who is the president of Hockey Punjab and the Sports Minister, while congratulating the Punjab Women hockey coach and the players said that the game of hockey was synonymous to Punjab. The name of Punjab has emerged with flying colours at the National level.

Badal lauded the spirit and game shown by Punjab players said the team has brought laurel for the state. He said Punjab women hockey team girls defeated Haryana girls in the final match by 3-1 goals and won a gold medal. The Deputy CM said that it was a moment of glory, as Punjab Women hockey players had won a gold medal for the first time in the history of National games. Also, it was for the first time that Punjab women hockey team had made it to the final match.

The Deputy CM said that the Punjab Men Hockey team had already proved their mettle at the National level. Badal said that last year, the Indian Hockey (men) team had won a gold medal in the Asian Games and as many as seven players in that team was from Punjab and now women hockey players have also shined at the national level. He said that every player and the coach required kudos for this impressive national level victory in hockey.