Simranjit Kaur to be awarded five lakh rupees for Olympic qualification

Aside from the financial reward, the Punjab Chief Minister also assured her of a job to support her family.

2 minBy Olympic Channel Writer
Indian boxer Simranjit Kaur.

Simranjit Kaur will be gifted five lakh rupees by Punjab’s Chief Minister Amarinder Singh for securing a 2020 Olympics berth in the women’s lightweight (57-60kg) category at the recent Asia boxing Olympic qualifiers.

On Monday, Punjab Sports Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, along with Simranjit Kaur and her family, met Amarinder Singh where he congratulated the pugilist on her achievement and wished her the best for the upcoming 2020 Olympics.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister also expressed his wish that other girls would be inspired by Simranjit Kaur’s achievements.

Supportive in more ways than one

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also assured that his government will provide assistance and support in all possible ways.

This includes providing her with a suitable government job, something which Simranjit Kaur had personally written to the government about, being the only provider in her family that includes her mother and two brothers.

"I am the sole breadwinner of the family. My two younger brothers are still studying. My elder sister is employed with the BSF (Border Security Force), but she is married and lives with her husband,” Simranjit told India Today.

All set for the 2020 Olympics

Simranjit Kaur not only secured her Tokyo 2020 berth at the Asia boxing Olympic qualifiers but claimed a silver medal, losing in the final of the women's lightweight class to Korean boxer Oh Yeonji.

With no upcoming bouts planned, Simranjit’s next entry into the boxing ring is scheduled to be at the 2020 Olympics in July.