Shot-putter Tajinder fails to show gold medal to his father
MOGA : He realised his father’s dream of winning the gold medal in Asian Games, but ace shot putter Tajinder Pal Singh Toor couldn’t fulfil his own wish of presenting the same to him. Tajinder lost his father even before he could show the gold medal to him.
Tajinder’s father Karam Singh died at 4:30pm on Monday at Army Hospital in Panchkula after fighting a 5-year-long battle with cancer.
Residents of Tajinder’s native village, Khosa Pandu in Moga district, had planned a grand welcome for him, but the news of death turned celebrations into mourning. Tajinder said he will regret for life that he couldn’t present the medal to his father. “The only consolation is that my father at least knew that I have won the gold medal, which was his wish,” Tajinder said.
“I was making efforts to book ticket early but due to the heavy rush, it couldn’t be done. I reached India on September 3. I was planning to surprise my father in the hospital,” he said.
Tajinder’s mother Pritpal Kaur said her husband had instructed the family members not to discuss his health with Tajinder as it may distract him.
Punjab sports minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi has expressed profound grief over the demise. Moga deputy commissioner DPS Kharbanda and SSP Gurpreet Singh Toor also visited the family to express grief. The cremation will take place on September 6 at Khosa Pandu village as the family was waiting for Tajinder’s sister who was settled in the US.