Punjab's Harjinder Kaur, the daughter of a marginal farmer from Mehas village in Nabha, added another milestone to her illustrious career by winning the silver medal in the women's 69 kg weightlifting event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games on Tuesday.
According to The Tribune, the medal comes four years after she claimed bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, underlining her consistency on the international stage.
Just hours before stepping onto the competition platform, the 29-year-old spoke to her brother, Pritpal Singh, and expressed complete confidence in her preparation. As reported by The Tribune, Harjinder believed she was fully prepared to return with either a gold or silver medal.
“She told me she was fit and certain of winning either a gold or a silver medal,” recalled Pritpal. “Her confidence proved right as she returned home with a podium finish.” Harjinder was recently honoured with the prestigious Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award.
According to The Tribune, Harjinder's achievement is the result of years of determination, sacrifice, and unwavering support from her family, who stood firmly behind her despite criticism from society.
Recalling the family's journey, Pritpal said, “There was a time when people criticised our family for encouraging our daughter to pursue sports, but we never paid attention to such remarks."
The family faced severe financial hardships while supporting Harjinder's sporting ambitions. Arranging money for her training, specialised diet, and travel to competitions was an ongoing struggle.
The Tribune reported that recognising his daughter's talent and passion, her father, Sahib Singh, took loans to ensure she could continue pursuing her dreams without interruption.
Harjinder's childhood was shaped by perseverance and resilience. Every day, she cycled nearly five kilometres from Mehas village to Nabha to attend school.
“I vividly remember her cycle would often get punctured, but she would quietly push it home instead of complaining because she understood our financial situation,” her father recalled.
Beyond her education, Harjinder regularly assisted her father with farming activities, including cutting straw using a chaff machine to feed cattle. According to The Tribune, she often credited those physically demanding chores for helping her develop the strength that later became the foundation of her weightlifting career.
Pritpal shared that Harjinder's sporting journey began while she was studying in Class XI. She initially took up kabaddi before her first coach, Paramjit Sharma, recognised her natural strength and encouraged her to try tug of war.
She later switched to weightlifting, a decision that transformed her career and eventually made her one of India's leading lifters.
The transition, however, was far from easy. At one stage, Harjinder even considered leaving the sport because she feared weightlifting would change her physique.
“My wife and I told her not to think that way. We encouraged her to focus on building her future through the sport she loved,” said Sahib.
Despite the family's financial difficulties, education always remained equally important. As highlighted by The Tribune, Harjinder's parents consistently encouraged both their children to continue studying while pursuing their ambitions.
“Our father always told us to study well, regardless of our financial condition. Even when money was very less, our parents assured us they would do everything possible to support our education and dreams,” said Pritpal.
Harjinder's love for strength sports runs in the family. In his younger days, Sahib Singh himself participated in village-level weightlifting competitions, unknowingly laying the foundation for his daughter's future success.
Today, Harjinder serves in the Income Tax Department, while her brother is also financially independent. According to The Tribune, after years of struggle and sacrifice, the family has finally overcome its financial hardships and is enjoying the rewards of Harjinder's remarkable journey.
An emotional Sahib summed up the family's inspiring story with a smile: “Hun koi fikar nai mainu (Now I have no worries)."
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