Chandigarh, Sept 25: Indian shot putter Manpreet Kaur delivered a deeply emotional performance at the Asian Games, clinching the bronze medal with a best throw of 17.17 metres. The 36-year-old athlete from Sahauli village near Nabha dedicated her achievement to the memory of her late father and father-in-law, fulfilling a long-standing family dream of bringing international athletic honor to her home state of Punjab.
Manpreet’s journey to the Asian Games podium was shaped by personal tragedy from an early age. She lost her father while studying in Class 6, a loss that profoundly impacted her family but deepened her commitment to sports, which her father had passionately encouraged her to pursue. Supported by her family, including her husband and coach Karamjeet Singh, she navigated career challenges and financial hardships to remain competitive at the highest level.
Her bronze-winning effort in the fourth round placed her alongside China’s Song Jiayuan and Zhang Linru, who claimed gold and silver respectively. Reflecting on her victory, Manpreet affirmed that the medal represents the culmination of years of perseverance and expressed gratitude to her extended family for sustaining her training through every obstacle.
