Latest news with #KhedanWatanPunjabDiyan
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Simranjeet's golden punch at boxing championship
Fifteen-year-old Simranjeet Kaur from Chakar village, who clinched the gold medal in the 57-60 kg category at the State Junior Women Boxing Championship held in Pathankot on Wednesday, has said that the game has been her passion since 2021. A student of Class 12 (commerce), her journey is rooted in determination and humble beginnings. With her mother as a homemaker and father working as a labourer, she has carved her path with grit and discipline. Last month, she brought pride to the nation by securing a silver medal in the under-17 60-kg category at the Junior Asian Championship in Jordan. Her love for boxing began unexpectedly. 'I used to go for evening walks and noticed children practising boxing. One day, I thought, why not me? I joined the training centre in my village in 2021. Since then, it has become my passion,' she said. She is no stranger to the podium. Last year, Simranjeet bagged a silver in the 54-kg category at the School National Games in Delhi and also clinched gold in the 60-kg category at the state-level Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan in SAS Nagar. Despite being in her board exam year, she maintains a strict routine, training for two and a half hours each in the morning and evening while keeping up with her academics. 'Sports isn't just about medals. It shapes your mind and body,' said Simranjeet who aspires to pursue law during higher studies.
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Chetan bags gold in state taekwondo championship
Thirteen-year-old Chetan Nand Gupta, a student of USPC Jain Public School, won the gold medal in the under-14 cadet category at the third Punjab State Cadet and Junior Taekwondo Championship. The event, organised by the Taekwondo Sports Association of Punjab and affiliated with India Taekwondo, was held at Lovely Professional University on Saturday and Sunday. Gupta's performance in the championship has earned him a spot in the upcoming National Taekwondo Championship, which will take place in Dehradun from May 29 to June 1. His coach, Armaan Ali, shared that this is not Gupta's first big win. He had clinched the gold medal at the Open National Championship in Chandigarh last year and secured top honours at the district-level Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan. He had also won silver medal in the state-level school games. Meanwhile, 12-year-old Manmeet Kaur, also from USPC Jain Public School, won a silver medal in the same cadet category (under-14) in the -37 kg kyorugi event. Kaur too has an impressive track record, having bagged a bronze at Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan and a silver in the state-level school games last year. Kaur said, 'I am elated with this achievement and would like to thank my coach, Armaan Ali, for his constant support and training.'
Hindustan Times
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Moms and medals; balancing homes and hustles
Every mother can achieve heights — it only takes the right mindset, says a powerhouse mother, 48-year-old Baljeet Kaur, who works with the Indian Railways and is also an international athlete. She makes time for her training during lunch breaks and in the morning hours after sending her children to school. On Mother's Day, marking motherhood and maternal bonds, achievers, who are not just nurturing families but also conquering the world of sports with strength, spirit, and determination, point out that motherhood is not an end of dreams, but the beginning of even bigger ones. 'In the evenings, I take them to the stadium with me so they too can play and practice,' says Baljeet Kaur. Having won medals in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and more, Kaur believes that motherhood gives strength. Dilpreet Kang, 45, a proud mother of two, including a young boxer, has managed to juggle her home, parenting duties and her lifelong passion for athletics. A former school-level athlete, she returned to the field just four months after having her first child. Since then, there has been no looking back. With sheer dedication, she has participated in national and international events in discus and javelin throw. She has a proud medal haul to her name — gold, silver and bronze—from the Asian Masters Athletics Championship in Malaysia (2018), a silver in Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan last year and three medals each at the National Khelo Masters Championship in Delhi and another championship in Dharamsala last month. 'My family has always supported me, and that has made all the difference,' says Kang. 'Fitness is important for everyone, especially mothers. Go to the gym, play sports—do anything that keeps you physically active.' Her passion doesn't stop at her own achievements. She has inspired those around her too. She motivated her sister-in-law—who has a two-year-old daughter—to take up sports. Today, she too competes in athletic events. Assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Navjot Kaur, 40, is showing what true grit looks like. Posted in Phagwara but based in Ludhiana, she juggles her job, home and training sessions with unmatched energy. 'After becoming a mother, my strength and determination only grew,' she says. Her son is a budding cricketer, and she encourages him to follow sports seriously. She has brought home medals from national games in Jharkhand, gold at the World Police Games in Canada and has proudly represented Indian Police in several international events. Then there is the story of a mother who had to quit athletics due to a knee injury last year. Even though she no longer competes, her love for sports lives on through her children. 'It's not easy for a homemaker to continue sports—practice, diet and routine often take a backseat. But I channel all my energy into motivating my children now,' says Ramandeep Kaur. A former bronze winner in the 1500m sprint at Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan, she had once competed at the All India Inter-University level in 2006. Today, she's the wind beneath her children's wings.
