Punjab athlete Rashdeep Kaur has achieved the Asian Games qualifying standard in the women's 400m at the 65th National Inter-State Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The 23-year-old clocked 53.61 seconds, comfortably bettering the required mark of 53.72 seconds.
Already in Commonwealth Games squad
Rashdeep had already secured a place in India's Commonwealth Games squad for the women's 400m and relay events. Her latest performance has further enhanced her prospects of representing the country at the Asian Games. The Athletics Federation of India is expected to announce soon whether she will compete in the individual 400m event or as part of the women's relay team.
Family support key to success
Rashdeep's rise has been marked by determination and strong family support. According to The Tribune, her father, Gurlal Singh, a marginal farmer with just two acres of land in Gandhuan village of Sangrur district, recognised her talent after a school athletics meet when she was only eight years old and began taking her for professional training. Despite facing criticism and scepticism from villagers, Gurlal remained steadfast in supporting his daughter's ambitions. He also encouraged his younger daughters, Sukhveer and Ranjeet Kaur, to pursue athletics.
Performance strengthens Asian Games chances
Rashdeep's time of 53.61 seconds at the National Inter-State Championships has significantly strengthened her chances of securing a place in the Indian contingent for the Asian Games. She is now a strong contender for both the individual 400m and the relay events.
