Differently-abled Sukhwinder Singh, a student of Jagjit Singh Sachdeva Asha Kiran school, Jahan Khelan, was given a rousing welcome as he returned after participation in the floor hockey competition in Special Olympics World Winter Games, which recently concluded in Pyeong Chang, South Korea. The team won a silver medal helped largely by Sukhwinder's four goals. The district administration honoured the 18-year-old for his excellent performance on Saturday.

Later he was taken around the city in a flower bedecked open jeep. School president Paramjit Singh Sachdeva said that it was the first time that a player from Punjab had represented the country in the Special Olympics.

"Sukhwinder had participated in the National Games last year after which he was selected for the international event," he added.            

Congratulating Sukhwinder, his coach Gurparsad and school staff, deputy commissioner Mansavi Kumar said that such competitions help intellectually challenged children learn social competence and gain self-esteem.

Sukhwinder's father Hans Raj, who is an ASI in the Punjab police, said he was proud of his son. "We had got Sukhwinder admitted in the Asha Kiran school to make him learn daily living skills but the staff helped him develop his capacities and made him a champion," he added.