Just a teenager, she hopes to compete on Oly mat someday

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 24

Veerpal Kaur, a budding wrestler dreams of representing the country at the Olympics someday. But for now, she is happy celebrating small feats. The 16-year-old player from Tarn Taran has won a silver at the Junior National Games in 57kg category.

Visiting city ahead of her prep for the Asian Games, she met her local guardians. Her father is an auto-rickshaw driver and mother’s a housewife. She and her two sisters are local sports stars of sorts as all of them have been making their mark in the field of sports. One of her sisters, Rajwinder Kaur is already an international-level hockey player and the other one Mandeep Kaur is a national hockey player.

Veerpal is currently undergoing training in Lucknow for a training camp for the upcoming Asian Games. “My father has limited means to support our dreams. So, we ensure that we excel in our field,” she said. Her dreams have found support from Channan Singh Sandhu, head of Punjab Development Party and an ex-serviceman, who has adopted her. He is providing financial assistance to the player for her food and other necessities.

Channan Singh said he believes that she has what it takes to win gold at the Asian Games. Earlier, she won silver in junior national in the 50-kg weight category in wrestling achievements in the field of sports.