Olympians Balbir Singh Kular, Tajinder Pal Singh Toor, Jitu Rai, and Paralympian Muralikant Patkar are among 10 defense officers, both serving and retired, feature in the Services tableau during the ceremonial Republic Day parade on Sunday, January 26.
The Parade assumes special significance this year as it marks the 75th anniversary of the Indian Republic. The President of Indonesia will be the guest of honor at the parade where the President of India, Draupadi Murmu, will unfurl the national flag.
It is one of the rare occasions when eminent sports heroes of the country participated in the ceremonial parade.
Several States, Union Territories, government departments and non-government organisations are represented at the parade through specially designed tableaus. The tableaus are approved by a screening committee of the Union Ministries.
After missing the last two parades, Punjab had its tableau dedicated to Sufi poet Sheikh Farid. Selected slokas of Sheikh Farid, acknowledged as the first Sufi poet of Punjab, were recited during the parade. The tableau also featured a pair of oxen to symbolise its agro economy besides displaying traditional musical instruments, associated with poetic recitation to the State’s rich cultural heritage.
Another tableau that highlighted the achievements of sportspersons of Punjab will be that of Services. Of 10 defence personnel chosen to be abroad, the tableau were hockey Olympian Col Balbir Singh Kular of Sansarpur, the nursery of hockey.
Colonel Balbir Singh, who was chosen to represent India in the 1968 Olympic games, was one of the youngest Olympians to get decorated with both Padma Shri and Arjuna awards.
It was the second time that he represented in the Republic Day Parade. He first appeared in this prestigious parade after the 1966 Asian Games when India won the gold for the first time. A postage stamp issued to commemorate the Bangkok Asiad success carried an action picture of the final against Pakistan featuring four players, including that of Balbir Singh Kular.
Other officers, both serving and retired, chosen for the 2025 Republic Day Parade, include shot putter Tajinder Pal Singh Toor, also Asian Games gold medallist; handballer Wing Commander Gurmeet Singh Sandhu; shooter Jitu Rai; Veer Nari Lieut-Col Ravinderjeet Randhawa; Paralympian swimmer Muralikant Petkar; Yachter Homi D. Motiwala; kabaddi star Ram Mehar Singh; besides Flt Lieut Ruchi Saha and Naval Lieut-Cdr Mani Aggarwal.