SANJEEV SHARMA
JAMMU: Besides guarding the international borders, the Border Security Force (BSF) has earned the name and fame at the world of sports as well. Ever since the force was raised in December 1965, BSF men have been bestowed upon with one Padam Shree and 17 Arjuna Awards in addition to a National Adventure Award.
The elite force has been contributing to the Indian sports by way of becoming an active part of the contingents representing country at the international level.
The BSF men have the honour of holding national colours. Nearly 190 sportspersons from this belt force have played for India at the international level. These include 41 in Athletics alone.
Interestingly, presence of a good number of celebrity sportsmen in different ranks and high spirited sporting officers have given a professional sports set-up in BSF.
The BSF has become the only Force, after the Army, to have its own Golf courses around the country, including one in Jammu and Kashmir. It not only help the officers ease out from the work load but also build in them a sporting character and attitude to understand the feelings of sportspersons.
It is pertinent to mention here that the BSF team has been defending the All India Police Golf Championship trophy for the last five years thereby holding the honour to represent the Indian Police in the World Police meet.
The BSF has evolved such a mechanism by which emerging stars automatically come to its fold. Every year during the national level activities, BSF team is on the hunt for the budding talent and subsequently appoints them to different ranks so as to groom them into international stars.
It was because of this policy that BSF has set-up at all its Frontier headquarters the full-fledged outdoor and indoor stadia where coaches of national repute train the Athletes.
Worthwhile to mention here that the sports infrastructure at BSF Stadium, Paloura is far better than that of J&K State Sports Council at the M A Stadium.
The encouragement in the hands of higher officials and better infrastructure has guided a BSF Commandant, Ajit Pal Singh to win the highest sports honour, the Padamshree in 1992.
In addition, the Force has produced 17 Arjuna Awardees right from the first win in 1962 and last to its credit in the year 2000.
Whereas those representing the country at the international level include 23 Wrestlers, 20 Cagers (basketball), 14 Gymnasts, 20 in Hockey, 16 in Swimming, 12 in Volleyball, 20 in Judo, 12 in Football and the highest 41 in Athletics. BSF has also contributed to the Indian sports in Cycling, Mountaineering, Boxing, Kabaddi and Shooting.
..in box…
ARJUNA AWARDEES
Nripjit Singh, Volleyball, 1962
Lt. Udham Singh, Hockey, 1965
Parveen Kumar, Athletics, 1967
Balwant Singh, Volleyball, 1972
Anil Kumar, Basketball, 1974
Mahender Lal, Shooting, 1983
Mahavir Singh, Wrestling, 1985
Subash Verma, Wrestling, 1987
Rajesh Kumar, Wrestling, 1990
Baldev Singh, Hockey, 1992
Jagjit Singh, Hockey, 1967
Kartar Singh, Wrestling, 1980
Sanjay Kumar, Wrestling, 1998
Harmik Singh, Hockey, 1998
Ashok Kumar, Wrestling, 1999
J Abhijit, Swimming, 2000
Lovraj Singh, National
Adventure Award, 1999.
|
