Asian Games Bronze-Winning Wrestler Cheema Killed in Road Accident
Wrestler Sukhchain Singh Cheema won the bronze medal in the 1974 Tehran Asian Games, and was a Dronacharya awardee.
Famous wrestler and double bronze medalist in 1974 Tehran Asian Games Sukhchain Singh Cheema was killed in a road accident near Patiala bypass on Thursday, 11 January.
The 67-year old wrestler was returning home from his farm in Bhanri village on Thursday evening when the accident occurred, police said. The accident took place near Shermajra chowk in Patiala.
A car coming from Rajpura side rammed into Cheema's vehicle, which turned turtle. He succumbed to his injuries in the local hospital.
Cheema, a Dronacharya awardee, is survived by his wife and two sons. He was awarded the prestigious title in 2004 by the then President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
Cheema was the son of 'Rustum-e-Hind' wrestler Kesar Singh Cheema.
He won medals in both freestyle and Greco-Roman style category.
Cheema's son Palwinder Singh Cheema who is a DSP in Punjab police, was also 'Rustum-e-Hind.'
Meanwhile, the local government, cultural affairs & tourism minister, Punjab Navjot Singh Sidhu has expressed profound grief at the demise of Cheema.
Condoling the demise, the minister said that Cheema belonged to a family of illustrious sportsmen and his father ‘Rustum-E-Hind’ Kesar Singh Cheema was an Olympian and son Arjuna Awardee Olympian Palwinder Singh Cheema is a 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medallist in the 120 kg category.
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