Ludhiana, March 29
Amripal Singh, during the recently held National Federation Athletics Championship at New Delhi from March 16 to 18, established a new record in the long jump event. He was felicitated by the District Amateur Athletic Association, Ludhiana (DAAA), here at a function organised recently. Many speakers at the function urged the state government to come to the aid of this star athlete who requires training by a specialist to further hone his skills so that India could hope to win an Olympic track medal. .
Amritpal Singh, an ASI with the Punjab Police, currently posted at Mohali, broke a 30-year-old record set by another Indian athlete T C Yohanan, created during the Asian Games in Tehran, in 1974. The young, lanky Amritpal Singh leapt a distance of 8.08 metres and to overtake the earlier record of 8.07 m set by Yohanan.
Amritpal Singh is the third Indian who has crossed the eight-metre mark. Besides, Amritpal and Yohanan, Sanjay Rai of Uttar Pradesh too cleared the 8 m barrier in 2001.
Earlier this month, Amritpal Singh gave a stunning performance at Delhi in the Senior National Federation Athletics Championship where he crossed the 8 m mark (8.08).
This outstanding achievement enabled Amritpal Singh to qualify for the forthcoming Olympics to be held in September in Athens. He is the only male athlete so far who has made it to the Olympics. Besides him, three women athletes- Neelam J Singh (discus throw), Anju B George (long jump) and J J Shobha (heptathlon) have qualified for the mega show.
Appreciating Amritpal’s achievement, the DAAA presented him with a cheque of Rs 15,000. Mr Malkit Singh Birmi, Minister for Jails, Punjab, who was the chief guest announced a prize of Rs 25,000 for the athlete and also assured the association that he would do whatever was necessary for sending the athlete abroad for further training. Mr S S Pannu, SAI coach, who trains Amritpal Singh and another athlete, Balraj Singh who finished runner up high jump at Delhi were also honoured by the
DAAA.
