Area: Sports
Gagandeep Kaur, hails from village Mandi Kalan, district Bathinda, Punjab is student of school GGSSS Mandi Kalan. She is 15 years old and is in 10th standard. She plays athletics. Her family comprises two elder sisters, one younger brother and her parents. Her father is a truck driver, and his monthly salary is nine thousand per month, and that, too, is variable to his attendance. Her mother is a homemaker who looks after the family.
Gagandeep started playing her sport at the age of 12. Her talent was spotted by coach Gurwinder Singh during the evening sports session. For the past one year she is trained and coached the under the Sports lab program by Roots Foundation in collaboration with Hyundai Motor India Foundation.
Gagandeep and her coach Gurwinder Singh are extremely grateful to Roots Foundation and Hyundai for executing this one of its kind sports initiatives. Gagandeep mentions that the sports equipment and the infrastructure provided under the Sports Lab program had been extremely beneficial in honing her skills and in sustaining her practice.
The coach shares that Gagandeep is quite disciplined, regular with the practice and is always willing to walk the extra miles. The coach credits the counselling sessions for instilling these ethos and values within Gangandeep.
Gagandeep has bagged 2 gold at the state level for 400 m running and high jump, organized by the Athletic Federation of India at the 98 Athletic Meet in September 2023. She has also recently bagged first position at a private tournament and won 3kgs of ghee as the first prize.
Gagandeep’s talent and passion for her sport have inspired her school to gift her spikes (special shoes) as a token of encouragement and support. She has inspired many girls in her school to join sports lab to hone their skills and follow their passion in their respective sports. She aspires to make a mark in athletics and play nationals very soon so that she can make her family, state, and country proud.