Tarushi Gaur, 12, has been awarded the Pradhan Mantri Bal Shakti Award for excelling in taekwondo.
She received the award in the sports category from Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a virtual ceremony which was telecast live on Doordarshan on Monday .
Tarushi is the only awardee from the tricity so far, and the first and the only person to get this award for taekwondo.
A student of The British School, Sector 44, she has been training at Emerald Martial Arts in Panchkula since the age of three under Shiv Raj Gharti, who is a 5th Dan Black Belt from South Korea.
Union women and child development minister Smriti Zubin Irani and minister of state Munjpara Mahendrabhai were also present during the ceremony. Tarushi received a medal, a cash prize of ₹1 lakh and a certificate.
A total 29 children from 21 states from the fields of innovation, social service, scholastic, sports, art and culture, and bravery were selected for the award from all over the country.