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After power-packed Olympics performance, Kamalpreet aims for CWG gold
Kamalpreet and her coach were presented cheques of ₹10 lakh and ₹2.5 lakhs respectively for bringing laurels to the country on the world stage. The cheques were presented by Hardeepak Singh, former IAS officer, on behalf of his brother Harvinder Saran, president of Harvest International.
Riding high on her Olympics’ performance, discus-throw sensation Kamalpreet Kaur, 25, who finished sixth in the finals, has already set her eyes on the next target – the 2022 Commonwealth and Asian Games.
“This is no time to rest. I am working on improving my technique and strength. I have already started practising with my coach Rakhi Tyagi,” says the power-packed performer, who had reached Jassowal-Kular, Ludhiana, along with her coach, for a felicitation ceremony at Harvest International School on Wednesday.
Kamalpreet and her coach were presented cheques of ₹10 lakh and ₹2.5 lakhs respectively for bringing laurels to the country on the world stage. The cheques were presented by Hardeepak Singh, former IAS officer, on behalf of his brother Harvinder Saran, president of Harvest International.
Speaking about her Olympics experience, Kamalpreet said, “I come from a remote village, Kabar Wala, of Malout. To suddenly have the whole nation praying for my win was a matter of great honour. But I worked really hard to reach there.”
Her mother, Harjinder Kaur, who was also present on the occasion, said, “It was not an easy ride for my daughter. She used to travel in trains for three days at a stretch to go for training. And add to that the societal pressure. As we hail from a very small town, people there used to discourage us from letting our daughter take up sports. But I am happy that my daughter remained focused on her game and made the country proud.”
Kamalpreet’s coach echoed her mum’s views. “It’s her discipline and fighting spirit that have now made her an inspiration for so many girls and women in the country,” said Rakhi Tyagi.
The coach further added, “We got only one gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics this time. The day sports becomes a culture in our country, the medal tally would touch the skies.”
Meanwhile, Kamalpreet puts all her faith in her coach. “I am not considering training abroad. I would like to train in a quiet village where I would get healthy food and peace of mind,” said the player, who maintained that she would continue to stick to her vegetarian diet.
Kamalpreet also voiced her disappointment at her coach not being allowed to travel to Tokyo with her.
