The ‘Golden Girl’ of shooting, Sift Kaur Samra, who etched her name in history by clinching gold in the women’s 50m rifle three-position event at the recent Asian Games in Hangzhou, received a euphoric welcome at Faridkot’s Nehru Stadium.
“I had never envisioned becoming a shooter; my path was set to become a doctor. It all began in 2019 when I accompanied my father to a shooting range where my brother was honing his skills,” revealed Kaur, the daughter of a dedicated farmer.
“At first, I didn’t take it seriously. After cracking the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test), I enrolled in a local government medical college. But, the allure of shooting never waned,” Kaur added with a bright smile.
In an emotional ceremony, Kaur and her parents were bestowed with honors by the district administration at the local sports stadium.
Faridkot’s Deputy Commissioner, Vineet Kumar, commented, “Kaur has not only showcased her mettle but has also brought immense pride to our town, our state, and her parents. Her precision on the shooting range has placed her atop the podium.”
Sift Kaur’s father, Pawandeep Singh Samra, expressed that while medicine was initially her dream, shooting had transformed into her burning passion, and she had tirelessly worked to achieve her sporting goals.
Ramneek Kaur, the shooter’s mother, emphasized that the true worth of a medal lies not in its color, but in the significance it carries for the nation.
Breaking the world record previously held by British shooter Seonaid McIntosh with a score of 467.0 points, Kaur achieved a remarkable 469.6 points in the final of the 50m rifle three-position event.
To pursue her shooting career, Kaur made the tough decision to leave her MBBS course at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College in Faridkot in March, as her tournament commitments clashed with her first-year exams. She has since embarked on a journey to attain a diploma in Physical Education at GNDU (Guru Nanak Dev University).
Kaur’s triumphant journey in the world of shooting has been nothing short of extraordinary, and her hometown of Faridkot stands united in celebrating her remarkable achievements on the global stage.
