Gurjant, Simranjeet to seek jobs after meeting PM
Kolkata: Goalscorers for India in the recently concluded Junior Hockey World Cup final, Gurjant Singh and Simranjeet Singh have been seeking jobs for the last four years. Both of them scored a goal each in India’s 2-1 win over Belgium in the final held in Lucknow last Sunday to lift the trophy after 15 years.
The entire junior world champion team will be meeting the Prime Minister next Wednesday over a high tea. Top of their agenda will be seeking jobs which they feel their state government and their clubs have failed to provide.
Gurjant Singh, who scored the first goal in the final against Belgium said, “We need security. The Punjab government (his state government) should provide us with jobs. When we meet the Prime Minister on December 28 we will be taking up the issue with him.”
Gurjant, who is playing for ONGC in the ongoing 121st All India Beighton Cup is one of the five players the PSU has in their ranks from the World Cup winning team.
“We have got Rs 25 lakh each from the Punjab government which is great. But we need security which a job can provide. We have just won the World Cup and our aim is to win a medal in the 2018 senior World Cup,” Simranjeet Singh, another scorer in the final, said.
Gurjant added: “We need some security as if we pick up an injury here today (in the Beighton Cup) who will take care of us? We are jobless.”
Retorting to the players’ plea, ONGC coach Sandeep Sangwan said, “We are looking into it (trying to get job for players). At ONGC, we have certain policies and at the moment we have three vacancies. We are thinking of giving them jobs.”
India edged past powerhouse Australia 4-2 via penalty shoot-out to enter the final.
“Life has changed after winning the World Cup. When I scored the first goal it was like the roof came down in Lucknow,” Gurjant said.
Most of the players who lifted the trophy hail from Gurdaspur district in Punjab.
Gurjant pointed out that the members of the team that won the junior World Cup in 2001, were rewarded with all the benefits.
“During their time, the players were very well treated and most of them got jobs as police officers and so on. We expect some support for all fraternities as well,” Gurjant said.