Raikot village praying for home-grown boxer Simranjit Kaur’s win

Mahesh Sharma

Raikot, July 26

While Simranjit Kaur, a World Boxing Champion from the state, is striving hard to live her late father’s dream in Tokyo, residents of her native village Chakar here, once infamous for violence, gang wars, family rivalries and drug battle, are praying for her emergence as the first Olympic champion of the village.

The Chakar village is now known as the village of boxers, as both boys and girls are being trained at the Sher-E-Punjab Academy, established at the village around 15 years ago.

Appreciating Simranjit for bringing laurels to the village by winning World Championship Medal in 2018 and then winning gold in Boxing World Cup at Cologne in Germany in December 2020, chief coach Balwant Singh Sandhu said they had been praying for her victory in Tokyo Olympics too. “Though we are sure of her victory in the final, we have organised special prayer meetings to seek the blessing of the Almighty,” Sandhu said.

He appreciated the contribution and sacrifice of Rajpal Kaur, Simranjit’s mother, who had managed to send all her children to the academy despite all odds. Simranjit’s elder sister and two younger brothers have also brought laurels to the village in the field of boxing.

Rajpal Kaur said she was in touch with her daughter, who had already won her first match. “I am so excited about the happenings in Tokyo that I don’t let my mobile phone out of my sight now. I wish Simranjit is able to fulfill her father’s last desire to see her as a champion boxer,” she said.

“Though I am proud of all my children, but Simranjit has gave me the strength to reply to all those who used to scorn when I allowed my daughters to take up boxing,” Rajpal added. The only income of the family came from Simranjit’s prize money.

Simranjit’s siblings sent to academy despite odds

Chief coach Balwant Singh Sandhu appreciated the contribution and sacrifice of Rajpal Kaur, Simranjit’s mother, who had managed to send all her children to the academy despite all odds. Simranjit’s elder sister and two younger brothers have also brought laurels to the village in the field of boxing.