Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi Presents Lifetime Achievement Award To Legendary Sportsperson Trio

New Delhi, November 4 (TNA) Chief of Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, on Tuesday, presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to three legendary sportspersons on the sidelines of the ongoing Army Sports Conclave, honouring their extraordinary contributions to Indian sports and the Nation.

Colonel Balbir Singh Kular (Retd), a stalwart of Indian hockey, was part of the 1966 Asian Games team winning Gold and the 1968 Mexico Olympics winning Bronze. A recipient of the Arjuna Award, he captained India at the 1971 World Cup at Lahore and went on to serve as a player, coach, manager and selector, shaping generations of Indian hockey talent.

The journey of Subedar Murlikant Petkar (Retd), India’s first Paralympic Gold Medallist, is a saga of resilience and inspiration. A soldier injured in the 1965 Indo-Pak war, he overcame adversity to win Gold in 50m Freestyle Swimming at the 1972 Heidelberg Paralympics, setting a world record of 37.33 seconds. His achievements continue to inspire countless para-athletes across India.

Sub Maj (Hony Capt) Vijay Kumar, an accomplished marksman, brought laurels to the Nation by clinching the Silver Medal in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol at the 2012 London Olympics. Decorated with the Padma Shri and Arjuna Award, he has consistently excelled at international championships and won multiple Gold medals. His discipline, work ethic and mentorship continue to inspire the next generation in the Armed Forces and beyond.