Jalandhar: LovelyProfessional University (LPU) will gift INR 50 lacs to Olympic champion NeerajChopra, who is pursuing his Bachelors in Arts (B.A.) from the university.Neeraj has made billions of Indians proud by winning Gold in the Javelin throwevent at Tokyo Olympics 2020. The University will also reward its wrestlerstudent Bajrang Punia with Rs. 10 lacs for winning the Bronze Medal in themen’s freestyle 65 kg wrestling category. Bajrang, who is pursuing his MA inPublic Administration from LPU, beat his rival Daulet Niyazbekov of Kazakhstanto clinch an 8-0 victory at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. The university has alreadyannounced a reward of Rs. 70 lakh for its seven hockey players of the Indianteam which won an Olympic medal after a wide gap of 41 years.
Olympic championNeeraj Chopra led the scoreboard in the Javelin throw event with an effort of87.03 on his first attempt, 87.58 on his second and 76.79 on his third.Neeraj’s victory is one for the ages as this makes him the first ever Indianathlete in the history of free India to win a medal in a track and field eventat the Olympics. He now joins ace shooter Abhinav Bindra in the esteemed clubof Indians who have won an individual Gold at the Olympics.
Mr. Ashok Mittal,Chancellor, Lovely Professional University said, “Neeraj has made the entirecountry proud by winning the first ever medal for India in a track and fieldevent in Olympics. With his performance, he has ended a 100+ year drought andshowed that Indian athletes can outperform anyone on the world stage withproper training and effort. His effort will make millions of Indians dream tobecome an athlete and will bring about a sports revolution in the country. Thesame is true for Bajrang Punia and our men in blue in the Hockey Team as well.We are extremely proud and fortunate to count them as our students and lookforward to welcoming these brave hearts back to the campus.”
Overall, elevenstudents from Lovely Professional University (LPU), represented the nation atthe ongoing Tokyo Olympics in wrestling, hockey, athletics and Paralympics. Outof these, 9 have won medals for India. While seven of them were a part of themen’s Indian Hockey Team, Neeraj Chopra and Bajrang Punia have medals inindividual events.
In this context,Lovely Professional University (LPU) rejoiced India’s historic TokyoOlympics-2020 achievements and illustrious contribution of its eleven (11)participating students to the games thereof at its campus. During massivecelebrations for glorious wins for India and LPU, LPU Chancellor Mr AshokMittal, Vice Chairman Mr Naresh Mittal, Pro Chancellor Mrs Rashmi Mittal, DG HRSingla and all other ranks gathered along with students and staff members atSBRM Unipolis of the University. While addressing all, Chancellor Mr Mittalshared: “LPU students have made India & LPU proud.” Mr Mittal also sharedthe momentous victorious moments of the athletes through videos and informedthat LPU’s commitment made a few years ago to send its students to Olympics hasbeen fulfilled and that too with significant wins so soon. He also informedthat presently LPU is awaiting the return of the winners at the campus, wherethey will be duly honoured with cash rewards of Rupees 1.3 Crores, as announcedearlier. More merriment and rejoicing will be held at the campus amid theiresteemed presence.