Arjuna awardee and former hockey captain Rajbir Kaur joins AAP in Punjab

Chandigarh: Former Indian women hockey captain Rajbir Kaur on Thursday joined Aam Aadmi Party and alleged that the ruling Akalis are ignoring sportspersons.

"I have seen that nothing has been done either for sportspersons or sports as such during the present Akali regime," she said here.

Rajbir said there is a dire need to uplift the standard of sports in Punjab which has deteriorated in the last few years because of government's alleged apathy.

"There is lack of government help to the sportspersons in Punjab," she alleged

She said that drug addiction among youth is the main concern in Punjab today and it is the need of the hour to attract youth who have fallen prey to the menace towards sports to bring them to mainstream again.

She joined the AAP in presence of senior leader and Punjab Incharge, Sanjay Singh, Punjab Convener, Sucha Singh Chhotepur, Sangrur MP and Chairman, Campaign Committee, Punjab, Bhagwant Mann and others.

"I have joined AAP because I am impressed with its functioning and its connect with the people. Moreover, I feel that this party's leadership listens to common workers and people and remains accessible to them. I have high hopes that they can turn around the fortune of sports in Punjab," she said.

Kaur, an Arjun awardee, was captain from 1985-94 after joining the national team in 1981.

She is the only Indian women's hockey player who represented India in four consecutive Asian games in 1982, 1986, 1990 and 1994.

Welcoming Rajbir into the party fold, Sanjay Singh said that people who had made a mark in their fields are joining AAP with the hope of changing the system.

Taking a jibe at Punjab's Deputy Chief Minister and Sports Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, Bhagwant Mann said, "If Sukhbir claims that Akali government has done a lot for promotion of sports in Punjab then what is the reason that no one from the State could win even a single medal at any international level competition in last few years."

He said that with the help of the sportsperson who have joined AAP in past, a special session of 'Punjab Dialogue' will be held with sportspersons to know their problems.