15-year-old boxer Mandeep Kaur shines at World Junior Championship, wins two gold medals

New Delhi: Teenager Mandeep Kaur Sandhu from Punjab won two gold medals on Saturday at the Women's World Junior Boxing Championship in Taipei to script a classic rags to rich storyline.

15-year-old Mandeep, who hails from Chakkar village, won gold medal by beating Ireland's Niamh Earley in the final match by a 3-0 margin. Mandeep was dominant in her category (52 kg) throughout the tournament and registered some thrilling wins.

Overall, it was fantastic tourney for Indian boxers as they pocketed 7 medals in all - three golds, a silver and two bronze.

Mandeep's father, who is a farmer, was unable to pay for her gloves or training equipment, which eventually led to the Sher-e-Punjab Sports Academy sponsoring her cause. Balwant Singh (the academy in-charge) also praised Mandeep for her achievement and touted as her one to watch out for in the near future.

Daljit Kaur, Mandeep's mother said to a leading newspaper that Mandeep never missed her practice sessions and started her training sessions from 4 am sharp in the morning everyday.

Mandeep took inspiration from her elder brother (an amateur boxer) to take up the sport, who used to accompany her at the Sher-e-Punjab Sports Academy in Chakkar.

The young girl learnt the tricks of the trade watching her brother practice and followed his footsteps in the sport.

Mandeep who studies humanities (Class 12) at the Government Senior Secondary School, Chakkar, started playing the sport at the age of 7.