Punjab CM offers cricketer Harmanpreet post in Punjab Police

Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], July 23 (ANI): Lauding Punjab's Moga's girl Harmanpreet Kaur for her brilliant performance in ICC Women World Cup tournament, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday offered the star cricketer a post in Punjab Police, if she still desired to join the force. The young girl has made the state proud with her performance that had steered team India to a semi-final victory and given a tight fight to England in the final match to emerge a close second. Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said Harmanpreet deserved all the adulation and recognition that was coming her way. Taking cognizance of media reports that Harmanpreet had wanted to join the Punjab Police some years ago, the chief minister said his Government was keen to correct the wrong perpetrated on the young cricketer by the Badal government, which had refused to accommodate the national player in the Punjab Police. The chief minister earlier promised to review the state's sports policy to provide government jobs to young sportspersons like Harmanpreet, and also announced Rs. 5 lakh cash award for the cricketing marvel. Captain Amarinder, who called up Harmanpreet's father Harmandar Singh during the day, said his Government would initiate steps to change the sports policy to accommodate budding sportspersons in government jobs, which the erstwhile Badal Government had denied to the young lady. Captain Amarinder told Harmandar that his Government was committed to the promotion of sports in the state. All steps would be taken to ensure the welfare of sportspersons who were contributing to the state's glory with their grit and hard work, he added. The Chief Minister lauded Harmanpreet's score of 171 not out of 115 balls in the world cup cricket semi-final, thereby becoming the second highest scorer in women cricket and steering India into the finals of world cup. Captain Amarinder further said Harmanpreet had done the entire country proud with her rare accomplishment in the field of sports and would always be a source of inspiration for young players. (ANI)