CWG medallist Vikas Thakur felicitated

Our Sports Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 22

Vikas Thakur, who won a bronze medal in the 21st edition of the Commonwealth Games held from April 4 to 15 at Gold Coast in Australia, was felicitated here on Sunday.

He secured the third position in weightlifting in the below 94 kg category to bring fame to the city.

Vikas was honoured by the Himachal Parivar Sangathan, Maharana Rajput Sabha and Ludhiana Youth Congress jointly at a function organised at the local Circuit House.

Bharat Bhushan Ashu, newly appointed Punjab Cabinet Minister for Food and Supplies, along with Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu, Sanjay Talwar (MLA), Dimple Rana, former president of the Ludhiana District Congress Committee, Gurudev Anand Attri, Convener of the Sabha and others were the guests of honour.

They presented bouquets and mementoes to Vikas and appreciated his achievement. They urged the youth to follow Vikas, who had made his parents, city and the country proud by winning a medal in the Commonwealth Games for the second time. He had also won a silver medal in the last edition of these games at Glasgow (Scotland).

Hailing from Patnaun village in Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh, Thakur’s family shifted here 32 years ago. Vikas’ father Brij Lal Thakur works as the Mail Express Guard with the Indian Railways and is posted at Ludhiana currently.

Vikas Thakur (24), currently employed with the Indian Air Force as the Warrant Officer and posted in Chandigarh, started his career under the three gold medals winner in the Auckland Commonwealth Games Parvesh Chander Sharma here at the Ludhiana District Weightlifting and Bodybuilding Club, Rakh Bagh, and brought fame in every competition, he took part.

Rana said Vikas had set an example by winning medals in the international championships with sheer dedication, hard work and commitment. He wished him success in the upcoming Asian Games to be held in Indonesia in August this year. Rajesh Rattan Bhardwaj, Anil Thakur, Thakur Sant Singh Rana, Rakesh Minhas, Mangat Thakur, Kapil Mehta and other members of the Sabha were present at the felicitation function.