Former junior world champion boxer Mandeep Kaur is gunning for a gold medal at the 36th National Games, hoping that a podium finish here would open up doors for her recruitment in Punjab Police and end her dependence on her father’s farm earnings to fund her dietary requirements.

The two-time gold medallist at the Inter-University Games began her National Games campaign with an effortless win over Tamil Nadu’s J Hanna Joy in the 57kg category.

“It’s been a tough journey, especially when I have to go back to my father asking for money for supplements. Whatever pocket money I get from my family is exhausted in diet. It is difficult when you don’t have any sponsors to back you. But then life is all about hopes, and I hope the doors open for me once I win a National Games gold,” she added.

However, the road to the National Games gold won’t be a cakewalk for the Punjab boxer with Assam’s Jamuna Boro, a former world championship medalist and a pre-tournament favourite, also in fray in the 57kg weight category.

“There are many good boxers in the category, it can be anybody’s day in the ring going forward. Each bout is different as we get to face boxers with different techniques, that is the charm of the sport, isn’t it?,” she added.

Mandeep Kaur, who hails from Chakar village near Ludhiana which is also the native place of Tokyo Olympian Simranjit Kaur Baath, fell in love with the sport at the age of seven. But her father’s financial condition made it difficult for him to pay for her gloves or training equipment. But Sher-e-Punjab Sports Academy came forward to sponsor the girl and she hasn’t looked back since then.

The youngster, who had joined the academy after following in the footsteps of her elder brother, won the 2011 and 2012 National Sub-junior titles, before picking up a gold medal in the 4th Junior Nations Boxing Cup held in Serbia in 2015.