‘Sift was doing MBBS. Couldn’t go to college because of shooting practice. One day he said- Papa, don’t study anymore. I want to make a career in shooting only. He left medical studies. The principal of his college even stopped him, but he did not agree.
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‘When he left MBBS, I wondered whether he had taken a wrong decision. Was worried about his job. Sift broke the British shooter’s record at the National Shooting in 2023. This year he won gold in the Asian Games. Then I felt that now I will not have to worry about the job.”
If the principal had been listened to, Sift Kaur, who was aiming for a medal in the Paris Olympics, would probably have been a doctor today. Father Pawandeep Singh also wanted the same. Sift, who came to the shooting by chance, removed all the doubts from the father’s mind.
Medal hopes from Sift are strong because her fellow shooter Manu Bhakar has boosted the confidence of the country by winning 2 bronzes.
Now Sift will shoot in the 50 meter rifle 3 positions event at the Olympics on August 1. Let us know the interesting turns of the shooting journey of Sift Kaur, born in Faridkot, Punjab. Read the ground report from Sift’s house…
Teacher sent name for shooting, then the situation did not stop
14 year old Sift was studying in 9th class. His school had to send the name of a girl for the shooting. Pawandeep says, ‘There was Deepali Deshpande ma’am in school. He sent Sift’s name for shooting. No other girl from the entire district had gone. With this, Sift directly reached the state level. Here Sift secured the fourth position.
Sift Kaur after winning gold at the Junior World Cup 2022. Photo- siftsamra_09 Insta
The father says, ‘Sift turned to this after shooting on behalf of the school, but she was already familiar with rifles.’
No one taught tuition, because she went to play every other day.
Pawandeep said, ‘I wanted my daughter to concentrate on studies along with sports. Wanted to make his daughter a doctor. Sift used to study all night long. Prepared for NEET. No one was willing to give her tuition in 11th-12th class, because Sift used to go to other cities to play every second-third day.
‘I had friends in my friend circle who took the responsibility of his medical studies. Sift used to play all day long and study with my friends till 10-10 pm. As good as she is in sports, she is equally smart in studies.
Got a medical seat, there was a problem there too
Pawandeep told, ‘After cracking NEET, Sift got a seat in Faridkot Medical College. But one person filed a writ petition. Said that Sift cannot be given a seat in MBBS without medical. Then Sift went to Germany to play the Junior World Cup. After this the university said that Sift’s medical will be done upon his return. Then this petition was rejected.
Pawandeep Singh says, ‘Sift used to go out again and again for tournaments. Lectures are necessary for MBBS, but Sift’s lectures were cut short. He was not allowed to appear in the final exam.
Sometimes she says MBBS was easier
Pawandeep Singh says, ‘It was my dream to make Sift a doctor and Sift’s to become a shooter. She wanted to make a career in shooting only. Now she sometimes says that doing MBBS would have been easier. As much stress as there is in progressing in sports, medicine was much easier than that. Now when Sift plays, we also do calculations in our mind.
‘Even the principal of SIFT did not want him to leave studies. They wanted Sift to continue. MBBS studies could not go along with sports so I left it. Now Sift is doing graduation in Physical Education.
The father says, ‘Sift’s specialty is his behaviour. Even if she meets someone once, she will recognize him even in a crowd. If you see it somewhere, you will go and meet it yourself. The specialty of staying connected to the ground makes him different from others.
Sift has left MBBS studies and is pursuing graduation in Physical Education. Photo- siftsamra_09 Insta
Sift likes Punjabi songs, she is a cool girl.
Sift’s coach Deepali Deshmukh says, ‘Sift likes to listen to Punjabi songs. Many times she even fights for it. Whatever is in the range, it remains there.
The coach said that Sift is cool. Fights for Punjabi songs. Photo- siftsamra_09 Insta
Deepali Deshmukh says, ‘Sift is not influenced by what anyone says. Whatever she has to do, she does it. It is Sift’s habit to complete the work he has undertaken. Her life mantra is – Be yourself.
Sift has reached Paris after training in Luxembourg. He has done 46 national camps in the country and was given foreign exposure 96 times. However, this training program was for the entire shooting team and Rs. 60.40 crores were spent on it. Sift’s personal training took place in Delhi and its budget was Rs 1.63 crore.
