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18th Asian Games:Punjabi touch to Asian Games

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Nimrat Kaur
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18th Asian Games:Punjabi touch to Asian Games
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It may not be an exaggeration to infer that no major sporting event is complete without a Punjabi touch.It may be primarily because Punjabis and potatoes are universal.The association of Punjabis with sports is not only limited to organisation but also in participation as well as technical conduct of events during mega sporting events.
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Mr Raj Kumar Singh, who comes from an illustrious Sikh family of Jakarta, controlled Indonesian Hockey for more than three decades.Though a recent legal adjudication went against his group, the rivals in recognition of his contribution to the sport  decided to offer Mr Singh life Presidentship.
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The Hong Kong Hockey Association, too, is headed by a Punjabi and Olympian, Mr Sarinder Singh Dhillon. In fact it is he who wields major influence in technical matters of the Asian Hockey Federation. Though Hong Kong may not have done well in the Asian Games, but it has been regularly participating in the continental games ever since the sport was introduced in 1958. Though no player of Punjabi origin was chosen this time, lots of Punjabis, especially Sikhs, have played for Hong Kong in previous editions of Asian Games as well as Olympic Games.
It goes without saying that no major hockey event is complete without a Sikh or a Punjabi representing one of participating nations other than India. Here in Jakarta, this honour went to 15-year-old Kirandeep Kaur who played for Malaysia in almost all the pool games. She is one of the youngest to represent Malaysia in Asian Games. She celebrated her 15th birthday in July.
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Also in Jakarta is a Sikh athlete representing Malaysia. Twentysix-year-old Nauraj Singh Randhawa, who beat Indian high jumper Chetan Balasubramanya with a leap of 2.24 m to take the seventh position, is a regular for Malaysia in all major  sports meets. Nauraj  was placed 10th in the just concluded Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.He had qualified for Rio Olympics also by clearing a height of 2,26 m.
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