Punjab boys prepare for final challenge

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 27

“Nothing can beat this feeling,” said Balbir Singh, captain of the Punjab team that has qualified for the final phase of the Oorja Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) Under-19 football tournament. “…We have reached the final phase and now the expectations will be double. We want to give our best and we are leaving no stone unturned,” added the 18-year-old.

Balbir, along with his teammates, has been sweating it out at the Ashwini Stadium at the BSF headquarters in Jalandhar for the last few days. The intensity of their training has increased ever since they beat Chandigarh 1-0 in the final of Phase 2 in Chandigarh on June 14.

“They played very well and we are hopeful of winning the final phase too,” team’s coach Suraj Bhan Handa said.

The final phase of the tournament, which started in May, will be held in New Delhi from July 12. 

“We are also excited about the prospect of getting a job with the CAPF if we win the tournament,” said Balbir.

DP Singh, DIG, BSF, confirmed that there would be jobs on offer. He also informed that the tournament winners would get Rs 5 lakh, the runners-up Rs 3 lakh and the second runners-up Rs 2 lakh.