LPU Celebrates Paris Olympians with a Rs. 2.5 Crore Cash Prize

Lovely Professional University (LPU) has celebrated its Olympian students with a remarkable gesture, awarding Rs. 2.5 crore in cash prizes. On Thursday, the university honoured its athletes who represented India at the Paris Olympics during a grand event held on campus. The ceremony welcomed 14 of the 24 Olympians, including celebrated figures like star wrestler Vinesh Phogat and Indian hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh.

In a particular highlight, Vinesh Phogat, disqualified just before the gold medal match for being 100 grams overweight, received a substantial cash prize of Rs. 25 lakh. Honourable Mr. Ashok Kumar Mittal, Rajya Sabha MP and founder Chancellor of LPU, lauded Vinesh as "Balali ki Jwalamukhi" and announced plans to sponsor 100 promising female athletes in her honour. Hailing from Balali in Haryana, Vinesh was also recognised with a dedicated chapter on her, in LPU's Physical Education program.

The event, held in conjunction with National Sports Day, was marked by vibrant performances and heartfelt tributes from fellow students. Mittal expressed his enthusiasm for the athletes' achievements and reaffirmed LPU's commitment to nurturing talent, stating, "We are dedicated to empowering our students to shine on the global stage."

In a stirring moment, Vinesh Phogat shared her journey and offered encouragement to the aspiring athletes in the audience. She reminded them that their support and encouragement are crucial for athletes' success. Her words resonated with the crowd, reinforcing their role as integral sports community members and inspiring them to continue supporting and cheering for their favourite athletes.

The honoured athletes included a diverse array of talents: hockey players Harmanpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Hardik, Shamsher Singh (BA), and Gurjant Singh (MBA); boxers Lovlina Borgohain (BA), Preeti (B.Sc), and Jaismine Lamboria (Bachelor of Physical Education); wrestlers Vinesh (MA), Antim Panghal, Anshu Malik (MA); shooter Arjun Singh Cheema (MA); and track and field athletes Kiran Pahal (BA), Vikash Singh, and Balraj Panwar (BBA).