Week 2 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics is already in progress and Indian athletes are making the country proud in every sporting field, be it badminton, hockey or wrestling. While the country is beaming with pride, Lovely Professional University (LPU) has not stopped celebrating. The reason behind this celebration is that 11 of their students are a part of the Indian contingent at the Olympics. Out of the 11 students, 7 are a part of the Indian Men’s Hockey Team, the group which recently created history by winning the bronze medal. With this rollicking victory, India managed to win a medal in hockey after 41 years of sweat and toil.
Manpreet Singh, the Indian men’s hockey team captain led the team to the bronze medal victory at the Olympics. Singh is also currently pursuing MBA at LPU. He was also the flagbearer for the Indian Contingent at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Other hockey team players studying at the University include Varun Kumar (MBA), Mandeep Singh (B.A.), Rupinderpal Singh (MBA), Harmanpreet Singh (MBA), Dilpreet Singh (B.A.) and Shamsher Singh (MBA).
All 7 players have made the country immensely proud with the historic win at the Olympics. Apart from being chosen for the Olympics, some of these players are also part of the Indian National Team as well as state hockey teams. For example, Mandeep Singh currently plays as a forward for the Ranchi Rhinos. Similarly, Varun Kumar plays for the Punjab Warriors in the Indian Hockey League. Rupinderpal Singh, playing for the national team is considered to be one of the best drag flickers in the world.
Apart from professional hockey players, Lovely professional University also houses Neeraj Chopra, an Indian track and field athlete as well as a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) in the Indian Army. He again, made the country proud by qualifying for the Javelin Throw finals. What’s truly commendable is his acumen and skill, managing to qualify to the finals in his Olympic debut. Currently, Chopra is pursuing B.A. at the university.
Lovely Professional University also has athletes from other sporting fields as well including wrestling, relay race and Paralympics high jump. Bajrang Punia, pursuing MA in Public Administration is representing India in the 61kgs wrestling event. Similarly, Amoj Jacob has been selected for the 4×400 metre relay race for men. Jacob is pursuing B.P.Ed. from LPU. Nishad Kumar, pursuing BA at LPU is representing India in the Paralympics high jump event.
All in all, the boys in blue are not only making the University proud but the entire nation is swelling with pride.