City judoka selected for National School Games

Tribune News Service

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Jalandhar, December 17

Parnaj Preet Kaur (12) has again made her coach and parents proud as she has got selected for the National School Games. A student of Government Senior Secondary School, Nehru Garden, here, Parnaj has qualified for the U-14 category. She had bagged the first position in judo in the state school games that were held in Tarn Taran recently.

Parnaj, who hails from Batala, stays in the school hostel. She has also participated in the sub-junior nationals that was organised by the Judo Federation of India in September last year.

It was not long ago when she had started learning judo. It has been only two years when she started getting training from her coach Sudhir Kumar. Since then, this small wonder has only been making waves has she has won medals in various championships.

Sudhir Kumar, a physical education teacher from the school, said Parnaj had got selected and the National School games would be held in Pune. “She has shown great potential and we are proud that she has reached this level and we will keep on encouraging her,” he said.

She had won a gold in state sub-junior judo championship that was organised by the Punjab Judo Association last year. The coach had then explained that she did not even stand for a minute in the ring and managed to defeat her competitor by using the toughest technique (ouchigari-back technique).

Despite the fact that the economic condition of her family is not good, the family doesn’t want her to stop.

Parnaj while earlier talking to The Tribune had said: “I was earlier into books all the time, but since the time I jumped into the world of sports, I don’t like anything else. I am totally into playing Judo now.”

She said she wants to be a star player in Judo.

Her mother Harpreet Kaur had said they were economically weak and despite having health issues, her husband had gone abroad to earn for their family.

“I have three daughters and a son and I know that how difficult is to make arrangements for my family,” said Harpreet who is a housewife. Parnaj’s elder sister, who is 16 years old, is an athlete.

Her coach Sudhir Kumar said he was proud to coach such a dedicated young girl. “I am proud of her. Now, the practice is on day and night and I am sure she will win the National School Games,” he said.