New Delhi: The Punjab government has renamed 10 government schools after the 10 players from the state who were part of India’s bronze-winning men’s hockey team at the Tokyo Olympics.
The new names of the 10 schools, all located in the hometowns of the respective players, were announced by Punjab School Education Minister Vijay Inder Singla Sunday, two weeks after he said such a decision would be taken as a “small token of gratitude” for their achievement.
The men’s Indian hockey team brought home an Olympic medal after a 41-year wait.
The Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS) in Mithapur has been renamed Olympian Manpreet Singh Government Secondary School, after the team captain, Singla said in an official statement, according to news agency PTI. Mithapur in Jalandhar district is Manpreet Singh’s native village.
The government primary school in Mithapur has been named after Mandeep Singh, who plays as a forward in the team and also traces his roots to the village.
GSSS Timmoval in Amritsar has been renamed Olympian Harmanpreet Singh GSSS, after the 25-year-old vice-captain who plays as a defender in the team.
The Government Middle School (Basic Girls) at Faridkot has been renamed Olympian Rupinderpal Singh Government Middle School, after one of the most senior players in team India. Rupinderpal is a defender in the team, and a skilled drag flicker.
The Government High School at Chahal Kalan in Gurdaspur has been named Olympian Simranjit Singh Government High School, after the 24-year-old midfielder whose dribbling skills are described as reminiscent of former captain and hockey giant Dhanraj Pillay’s. He scored two of the five goals that won India the bronze-medal match against Germany in Tokyo.
GSSS Attari, Amritsar, will henceforth be called Olympian Shamsher Singh Government Senior Secondary School. Shamsher Singh plays as a forward.
The other schools renamed in honour of the Olympics medalists include the Government Middle School at Khusropur in Jalandhar, after Hardik Singh, who plays as a midfielder, and Government Primary School Khalaihara, Amritsar, after Gurjant Singh, who plays as a forward.
(Edited by Sunanda Ranjan)
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