Three days ago, when she started from Patiala for Kolkata to participate in the ongoing Open National Athletics championship, her four-year-old daughter told her that she would clap, sitting at home if his mother could win the gold in the championship. Manpreet Kaur, after clinching the gold in the shot-put in the Open National Championship at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) ground on Wednesday could not resist her tears while telling this brief story. Along with winning the gold, Manpreet also ensured her berth in the Indian team for the Rio Olympics 2016. Manpreet also broke the national record by throwing 17.96 meters. In Rio Olympics, Manpreet said, her aim is to throw the iron ball at least to a distance of 20 meters. The overjoyed athlete said, “If I can throw 20 meters then I could expect of a medal in the Olympics.”
The 25-year old shot putter originally hails from Ambala, has settled in Patiala after her marriage. And despite the fact she won the national championships thrice, she had to leave the game immediately after her marriage at the age of 17. Then Manpreet returned to shot-put after a gap of three years. The athlete said on Wednesday, “I am dedicating this gold as well as the Olympics qualification ticket to my mother-in-law. If she had not been so inspiring I could not have returned to shot put and continued training. An employee in the Indian Railways, Manpreet trains under her coach and husband Karamjit Singh long time before her marriage when she was only nine years old. Manpreet added saying, “My mother-in-law has been so kind to me that she spends an almost whole day looking after my daughter at home. And she also has assured me of full assistance to my daughter and family during my stint in Rio almost for around one month.” No doubt, it has been a story of beautiful relationship between the wife and her mother-in-law where there does not belong any ego.