Jasleen Saini, a talented judoka with aspirations of competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics, has received a much-needed boost as several generous individuals have stepped forward to support him.
Saini recently clinched the gold medal in the senior open Asian Judo Championship held in Taipei. With his selection for the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games, Saini was hopeful that accumulating enough points would secure him a continental quota berth in the Olympics.
To fulfill his training requirements in Georgia and participate in the Olympic qualifiers, the young athlete needed financial assistance.
The first person to extend a helping hand was Dubai-based businessman Dr. SPS Oberoi, who reached out to Saini’s coach, Amarjit Shastri. Dr. Oberoi contributed Rs 1 lakh from the funds of “Sarbat-Da-Bhala,” a charitable trust he established.
Another notable contributor was Dr. Satnam Singh Nijjar, former Chairman of the Gurdaspur Planning Board, based in Batala. Dr. Nijjar donated Rs 1 lakh to support Saini’s cause. In addition, Rajan Kumar, the official representative of North Alabama University in India, sent a generous sum of Rs 1 lakh. Several industrialists from Batala, known for their sports goods manufacturing, have also pledged to make substantial contributions to ensure Saini’s Olympic dream stays alive. Coach Shastri expressed gratitude as locals reached out and offered their assistance as well.
Thanks to the compassionate actions of these individuals and organizations, Jasleen Saini’s Olympic journey has been given a renewed hope. With their support, he can now continue his training and pursue his dream of representing his country on the world stage.
