An award is not merely a souvenir, prize or trophy. It represents time, effort and excellence, all woven together.
International judoka Karanjit Singh Mann was conferred with the prestigious Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award in Chandigarh on May 25. A product of the renowned Shaheed Bhagat Singh Judo Training Centre, Mann hails from an institution that has produced 40 international players, including an Olympian, as well as medallists at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Police Games and World University Games. In addition, the centre has trained more than a hundred national-level judokas.
A five-time senior national champion in the 90 kg weight category, Mann has already qualified for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (July) and the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan (September). The award is based on performances in the last five years.
It is considered the highest sporting honour awarded by the Punjab Government to recognise outstanding excellence, achievements and contributions to sports at the national and international levels. The award honours athletes who have excelled at the Olympic Games, World Championships, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and other major international meets.
It constitutes a bronze trophy of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, a formal citation, and a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh.
“I am preparing for the Asian and Commonwealth games. I will definitely come back home with medals from both these events,” he said.
An alumnus of Little Flower Convent School, Gurdaspur, Karanjit completed his graduation from Kurukshetra University. His coaches-Kuljinder Singh, Ravi Kumar and Amarjit Shastri-all firm believers in the adage ‘catch them young’, spotted his inherent talent and nurtured it in a professional manner, while he was at school itself.
Currently employed as an Assistant Sub-Inspector with Punjab Police, Mann is posted in Jalandhar (Rural). He now trains at the PAP Complex in Jalandhar under the guidance of Kuljinder Singh.
