Rs6L for boxer for Olympic berth

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 16

State Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday announced to honour boxer Simranjit Kaur with a cash reward of Rs5 lakh for being the first woman boxer from the state to have qualified for Olympics. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal too felicitated Simranjit and presented her Rs 1 lakh.

An official spokesperson said Sports Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, along with Simranjit Kaur and her family members, met Captain Amarinder Singh here this morning.

Congratulating Simrajit Kaur on her feat, the Chief Minister said she had really made the state and every Punjabi proud, and wished her best of luck for Tokyo Olympics-2020. He assured that the state government would extend all possible support and cooperation to her in the future as well.

Sodhi said the Sports Department would provide a suitable government job to her as per her qualification and ability.

Kaur started her career from Chakar village in Ludhiana, her native place. She won a bronze in Junior Women Championship in 2013, a bronze in Senior World Championship in 2018 and a silver in Asian Boxing Championship in 2019.

Meanwhile, Sukhbir felicitated Simranjit and said her grit in taking up boxing would encourage other girls to take up this sport. He also congratulated the boxer’s family for supporting Simranjit’s passion. He said he was confident that Simranjit would do well at the Tokyo Olympics and bring laurels to the state.