15-year-old bags bronze in U-20 games

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 26

Paramjit Singh as a father is proud. His son, Satnam Singh, who recently returned home, has secured third spot in the 200-metre race in the 16th Federation Cup National Junior Athletics Championship (U-20) that was held in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Despite earning paltry Rs 5300 per month, he feels satisfied as his chest sweels with pride on his son’s achievement.

The 15 year-old will now get a chance to go abroad for taking part in the World Championship to be held in Morocco.

The significance of his feat is that Satnam competed with players older and more experienced than him. He was the youngest of them all.

While talking to The Tribune, he said his only competitor was a player from Uttar Pradesh, who stood first in the championship. The player who bagged second position is from Tamil Nadu. “The winner is three years older to me and others too were elder to me, I am so happy to compete with them and bagging a bronze is very encouraging,” he said adding that he came in contact with his coach Swaran Singh about a year ago and he changed his life completely.

Swaran Singh, who also trained Chandeep Kaur (19), who had won gold in 200-metre race in Khelo India School Games held this year.

The coach said he is glad over Satnam’s feat. Despite being of such a tender age, he is very dedicated and that is why he has achieved this position, he added. Now, his next aim is to win a medal in the World Championship, he said.

Paramjit Singh said it was tough for him to manage all this in such a meagre salary. “Main bahut khush haan, hun mera beta baahar bhi jaaega khedan layi, hor ki chahida hai, coach sahib da saara dhanvaad (I am so happy, now my son will go abroad to play, all thanks to coach sir).”