Tejinderpal Singh scripted history on Saturday when he threw the iron ball to 20.75m, destroying a six-year-old national mark, set by Om Parkash Karhana (20.69) during Day 7 of the ongoing Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta.
Tejinderpal Singh scripted history on Saturday when he threw the iron ball to 20.75m, destroying a six-year-old national mark, set by Om Parkash Karhana (20.69) during Day 7 of the ongoing Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta.
He not only set the Games record but also clinched India’s seventh gold medal this edition which helped India go one place up to No. 8 slot on the medal table.
Hailing from a farming family in Punjab, Tejinderpal usually played cricket during his childhood but his father, Karam Singh wanted him to excel in an individual sport.
Speaking to media in Patiala before the start of the 18th edition of the Asian Games in Jakarta, Tejinderpal said, “At this stage, I know that my father is not going to live for too long. All I want to do right now is to win as many medals as I can, while he is still alive. I want to give him all the medals.”
Tejinder, who left behind an ailing father, who is battling cancer, said on Saturday that all the sacrifices have paid today.
"This medal is my biggest achievement because a lot of sacrifices have been made. For the last two years, my father (Karam Singh) has been battling with cancer. My family though never let me get distracted. They allowed me to chase my dream. A lot of sacrifices have been made by my family and friends and all those have paid today," he said.
"My family never pressurized to attend my father in the hospital and it was always my friends who took care of all the hospital formalities in my absence. I have not gone home much in this period since I was training in Dharamsala," the burly athlete, who trains with MS Dhillon, added.
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