Chandigarh: Harmanpreet Kaur accepted Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh's offer to award her the post of DSP in Punjab Police. She took the decision after reaching her native village Duneke on Sunday.

“I am highly thankful to the incumbent Punjab government for offering me the post of DSP. I will accept it,“ Harmanpreet said. The Punjab government offered the Moga girl post of DSP on July 24.

And, the darling of the crowd was at her modest best, “I am overwhelmed by the warm welcome accorded to me. I never have expected that people love me so much.I am indebted to the praises and welcome showered on me and this has put more responsibility on me to perform better.“

The Punjab CM had said that his government wanted to correct the wrong perpetrated on the young cricketer by the previous Akali Dal government ­ which had refused to accommodate Harmanpreet in the force. The ToI had published a report that she was snubbed when she approached Punjab government for a job.

In 2010-11, when Harmanpreet was in dire need of a job, the Punjab government snubbed her application for a job in the Punjab Police. She had already played for two years for the national team by that time. A senior official in Punjab Police had told Harmanpreet that `she isn't a Harbhajan Singh that a DSP post will be given'. She wasn't even granted the post of inspector.

Harmanpreet's plea was also rejected by the then chief minister Parkash Singh Badal. She was told that there is no provision for employment in Punjab Police for female cricketers.

Harmanpreet's parents also wanted her to accept the chief minister's offer and come back to Punjab. Her mother, Satwinder Kaur had also stated that Harmanpreet wanted to be a cop since childhood. She is presently working with the Western Railways and is posted in Mumbai. 

Coutry’s Pride returns to her village

It is the sort of rousing welcome that male cricketers are used to, but gone are those days when such a reception was only reserved for the Kohlis and Dhonis. Here arrives, the new star on the Indian cricket's horizon, Harmanpreet Kaur who returned to her home district amidst a thunderous applause on Sunday .

The vice-captain of the Indian women's cricket team, which missed the World Cup by a whisker, is the cynosure of the nation with her consistent show in the tournament. People in large numbers turned up on roads to accord a warm welcome when Harmanpreet arrived.

And it was perfect euphoria in the town as she boarded the open jeep with people thronging in numbers to catch her glimpse. The district administration and politicians cutting across party lines rolled out a red carpet for her.

Her match-winning knock against the women from Down Under in the world cup semifinal has, beyond doubt, made her the toast of the nation with experts marveling her big-hitting skills.

People across ages with fluttering tricolors in their hands stood on the roads to witness her homecoming at village Landeke from where her victory procession be gan in an open jeep.

And, the darling of the crowd was at her modest best, “I am overwhelmed by the warm welcome accorded to me. I never have expected that people love me so much.I am indebted to the praises and welcome showered on me and this has put more responsibility on me to perform better.“

Despite the girl having made it big, not many were even aware she was from their district. “It is only the day she scored 171 runs we got to know that Harmanpreet is from our district. We came here to see her. It is a proud moment to welcome her at native place,“ said Arjinder Singh, from nearby village Dagru. Harmanpreet's brother Gurjinder Singh told that their family was very proud and happy for her.“We are delighted with the way she played during the world cup. It is no mean an achievement. No one recognized her talent before, but now she has made it big with her performances,“ he said.

Congress MLAs Harjot Kamal and Darshan Singh Brar welcomed Harmanpreet along with DC Moga Dilraj Singh. SAD leaders Tirath Mahla and Barjinder Singh alias Makhan Brar were also present.Some AAP leaders also came to welcome her. The victory procession started from Landeke and passing through Moga it ended at her native village Duneke.