Chandigarh: Focused on encouraging budding sports talent, a special press conference
was organized by Chandigarh University (CU) on October 13 (Friday) at
Chandigarh Press Club to welcome the students who added another feather to
University’s crown with their remarkable performance in the recently concluded
19 th Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China.
Medal winners, participants, and their families were present on the occasion,
who were applauded by Chandigarh University Chancellor Satnam Singh Sandhu
for their extraordinary performance in this 15-day continental multi-sport event,
which was organized by Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) from September 23 to
October 8.
Ten (10) Chandigarh University students out of the 22 participants bagged
medals in the 19th Asian Games. CU students who won medals are Arshdeep
Singh (Gold in Cricket), Bhajan Kaur (Bronze in Archery – Recurve), Kiran Godara
(Bronze in Wrestling – 76 kg), and Sanjay (Gold in Hockey), Inamdar Aslam
Mustafa, Nitesh Kumar, Vishal Bhardwaj, and Pawan Kumar (Men’s Kabaddi),
Sushma Sharma and Nidhi Sharma (Women’s Kabaddi).
Chandigarh University Chancellor Satnam Sandhu expressed delight and
congratulated students for their achievements in the Asian Games, and for
bringing laurels to the nation, their respective states, and the University. He
said, “The 19 th edition of Asian Games witnessed the Best-ever Medal Haul (107
medals) by Indian Players in any International Sporting Event since 1951, and it is
a moment of pride to state that Chandigarh University students have made a
great contribution to India’s this historical achievement by bagging 10 medals
across 5 sporting games.”
Satnam Singh Sandhu said, “With a total of 22 players (3.36%) in Indian
Contingent of 653 sportspersons, Chandigarh University had the highest number
of players from any university that participated in this year’s Asian Games. The
strike rate of 162 players who won medals for India across 24 games out of 41
sporting disciplines was 58.53%, whereas CU players had a winning strike rate of
45.45%. Contributing to India’s Medal Tally of 107, Chandigarh University
students won 8 Gold and 2 Bronze medals.”
He also mentioned, “India’s representation and achievements at international
level have improved significantly during the last 9 years due of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, who has not only taken initiatives to promote sports in every
nook and corner of the country but also to create a proper sports environment
for the sportspersons. He launched Khelo India games in 2017 to provide a
platform for budding talent in sports and groom the next generation of players
in the country. Under PM Modi’s leadership, the sports budget has increased five
times from INR 702 Crores in 2014 to INR 3397.32 Crores in 2023.”
“There has also been a quantum jump of award of 45% in the price money. The
cash prize given in Khel Ratan Awards saw up to 175% increase from INR 7.52
Lakh to INR 25 Lakh. The prize money for Arjun Award winners, and
Dronacharya Award winners has also increased under Modi government,” said
Satnam Singh Sandhu.
He further added, “Chandigarh University understands its responsibility as an
educational institution to nurture both academic excellence and holistic
development among its students. The University extends full support to
students in the field of sports by providing world-class facilities for training
purposes, well-trained coaches for guidance, and financial support through
scholarships. This year, the University has reserved a budget of INR 6.5 Crores to
ensure sports development on the campus. The University also offers Major
Dhyan Chand Scholarship worth INR 3.84 Crore to students annually. Currently,
there are 407 sports students studying at the University with a 100%
scholarship.”
Satnam Singh Sandhu, Chancellor Chandigarh University said “ The sports
students of Chandigarh University are gearing up for the upcoming Olympics at
Paris, France, 2024. And I am sure that like our sportspersons have made us
proud in Asian Games, they will repeat their grandeur performance at Paris
Olympics and will make India proud.
All the medal winners and participants, who are studying at Chandigarh
University under 100% scholarship – expressed pleasure over meeting the
chancellor. They also expressed gratitude towards Chandigarh University for its
support, which has helped them find balance in sports and academics.
Pawan Kumar Sehrawat, the captain of Indian Kabaddi team, has returned with a
Gold in Asian Games 2023. Prior to this, he played for India in the Asian Games
in 2019, where the team won a Gold medal. With a bid of INR 2.5 Crores by
Telugu Titans for season 10 of Pro Kabbadi League, he became the most
expensive player in the history of the tournament.
While speaking on the occasion, Pawan said, “The university has always
encouraged students towards sports, due to which they have been able to follow
their dreams. Facilities and guidance provided by Chandigarh University have
played a great role in my performance in the Asian Games 2023.”
Nitesh Kumar, who plays for UP Yoddha in Pro Kabaddi League, represented
India in the 19th Asian Games and contributed to team’s win against Iran with a
33-29 in a controversial final. In 2018 Pro Kabbadi League, he won the title of the
Best Defender.
Sharing his gratitude towards CU, Nitesh said, “Chandigarh University follows
well-planned sports policies and culture, which allows the students like me to
focus on both academics as well as the games. It is due to the support from the
university, I have been able to play for the country in the internationals.”
Young race walker Akshdeep Singh, hails from Kahneke village in Barnala district
of Punjab. With qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics in men’s 20km race
walk, Akshdeep has become the first Indian player to quality for the Paris 2024
games next year. He has also qualified for the upcoming World Athletics
Championships.
He said, “The University provides proper training and guidance to the students
to endure that they not just fulfil their personal dreams but also make the
country proud at an international level. It is due to the efforts for the University
that today its students are not just representing India in global sports events but
also winning medals in their games.”
Vishal Bhardwaj, hailing from a middle-class family from Una, Himachal Pradesh,
is a professional Kabaddi player (left defender and captain in sixth season) who
plays in the Pro Kabaddi League. He was a part of the Indian Kabaddi team that
won a Gold medal in the recently conclude Asian Games. Vishal has also been
selected to play for Dabang Delhi K.C. in the tenth season of Pro Kabaddi
League.
He said, “Chandigarh University provides full support to its students to pursue a
career in sports. The university ensures top-notch facilities to strengthen
games, financial assistance, and a balance between the academics and sports,
which is a huge contribution towards building the next generation of
sportspersons.”
Wrestler Kiran Godara, who belongs to Rawat Khera village in Hisar, Haryana,
clinched a bronze medal at Asian Games 2023. Kiran’s other international
achievements include bronze medals in Johannesburg Commonwealth
Championship (2017) and bronze in Commonwealth Games Gold Coast (2018),
and a gold in USA Beat the Street Championship (2019).
She said, “Chandigarh University has been a big contributor in building my
sports career. The university from the beginning has ensured regular guidance
and training, which has helped me grown in my game, and represent the country
at an international level."
Archer Bhajan Kaur, who belongs to Haryana, won a bronze medal in Recurve
event at Asian Games. Prior to this, she has won bronze medals in Hyundai
Archery World Cup in Paris, France and Youth World Championships in Limerick
this year. Bhajan also represented India in Archery World Cup Stage held in
Medellin, Colombia (2023). Also, she has won One Gold and Two Silver medals in
Asian Grand Prix Circuit (2022).
On the occasion, Bhajan Kaur’s father said, “Chandigarh University encourages
an excellent sports culture on the campus which helps students to pursue their
career in respective games along with their academics. India’s representation by
CU students is a testimony of University’s focus and efforts for sports
development in the country, which has been envisioned by our Prime Minister.”
Apart from the 10 students who won medals in Asian Games, CU students
Himanshi Malik, Tanya Choudhary, Akshdeep Singh (Athletics), Arjun and Akash
Kumar (Fencing), Haobijam Tendenthoi Devi, Awasthi PB, Thangiyam Priya
Davey (Rowing), Lachmi Oraon (Rugby), Mansi and Radhika (Women's Wrestling)
and Narendra Cheema. (Men's Wrestling) also represented India in various
games.
