LPU To Reward Student Neeraj Chopra With Rs 50 Lacs And Wrestler, Bajrang Punia Rs 10 Lacs

Lovely Professional University (LPU) will gift Rs 50 lacs to Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, who is pursuing his Bachelors in Arts (B.A.) from the university. Neeraj has made billions of Indians proud by winning Gold in the Javelin throw event at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. The University will also reward wrestler Bajrang Punia with Rs.= 10 lacs for winning the Bronze Medal in the men’s freestyle 65 kg wrestling category. Bajrang, who is pursuing his MA in Public Administration from LPU, beat his rival Daulet Niyazbekov of Kazakhstan to clinch an 8-0 victory at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. The takes the total tally of LPU students who have won a medal for the country in Tokyo Olympics 2020 to nine.

Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra led the scoreboard in the Javelin throw event with an effort of 87.03 on his first attempt, 87.58 on his second and 76.79 on his third. Neeraj’s victory is one for the ages as this makes him the first-ever Indian athlete in the history of free India to win a medal in a track and field event at the Olympics. He now joins ace shooter Abhinav Bindra in the esteemed club of Indians who have won individual gold at the Olympics. 

Ashok Mittal, Chancellor, Lovely Professional University said, “Neeraj has made the entire country proud by winning the first-ever medal for India in a track and field event in Olympics. He has ended a 100+ year drought with his performance and showed that Indian athletes can outperform anyone on the world stage with proper training and effort. His effort will make millions of Indians dream to become an athlete and bring about a sports revolution. The same is true for Bajrang Punia as well. We are extremely proud and fortunate to count them as our students and look forward to welcoming these brave hearts back at the campus.”

Overall, eleven students from Lovely Professional University (LPU), represented the nation at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics in wrestling, hockey, athletics and Paralympics. Out of these, 9 have won medals for India. While seven of them were a part of the men’s Indian Hockey Team, Neeraj Chopra and Bajrang Punia have medaled in individual events. The university recently announced a reward of Rs. 70 lakh for its students who won medals as a part of the Indian Hocket Team as well.