Manpreet Kaur stands tall as one of India’s premier shot put athletes, her journey a testament to grit amid personal tragedies and professional scandals. Born on March 5, 1990, in Patiala, Punjab, she emerged from humble beginnings, inspired by her father and cousins who were athletes themselves. Initially training in the 100-meter sprint, her brother spotted her true potential in field events, steering her toward shot put.
Tragedy struck early. At 13, she lost her father; at 16, her mother suffered a paralytic attack. Undeterred, Manpreet channeled her pain into performance. Her international debut came in 2007 at the 5th IAAF World Youth Championships in Ostrava, where she finished ninth. After a three-year hiatus, she shattered an 18-year national record in 2010.
The year 2015 marked a golden moment at the 55th National Open Athletics Championships in Kolkata, hurling the shot 17.96 meters for gold. In 2016, she became the sole Indian woman to qualify for the Rio Olympics in her category. Her peak arrived in 2017 at the Asian Grand Prix in Jinhua, China, with an 18.86-meter throw—gold, world-leading performance, and qualification for the London World Championships.
But glory turned to infamy that same year. Four positive steroid tests led to a four-year ban starting July 20, 2017, stripping her medals and records. Yet, Manpreet rose again in 2022, clinching gold at the national championships post-suspension. Today, as an Indian Railways employee, she balances job demands with her athletic passion, proving resilience defines her legacy.