Asked to choose between MBBS & sports, Sift Kaur Samra from Punjab refused to lay down arms, wins World Cup medal

 Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

 

First-year MBBS student Sift Kaur Samra won her first individual World Cup medal on Sunday as her family watched with pride from the gallery at the ISSF tournament in Bhopal. For the 22-year-old, the podium finish came on the back of a very tough decision – choosing between two targets, her education and her passion.

The tournament dates clashed with her first-year MBBS exams. She says she requested her college to hold the exams separately for her so that she could represent the nation but it was turned down. Asked to choose between the scalpel and her rifle, she chose the sport. “And I’ll stick to my guns till the 2024 Olympics,” she told TOI.

Samra shot her way to a bronze in the women’s 50m rifle 3-position, taking India’s medal tally to seven and ensuring second place for the country.

Her happiness is tinged with concern for her MBBS, though. That she cracked NEET while keeping her sights on the bullseye is exemplary, but juggling the two proved tough.

“I am not able to manage shooting with MBBS. Before coming here, I requested my college to hold separate exams for me, but they refused. They went on suggesting that I should repeat the first year,” said Samra, a student of Government GGS Medical College, Faridkot, Punjab.
“I met a couple of ministers and other influential people to help me but to no avail,” said Samra, who is the first shooter in her family.

She said she was about to quit the sport last year. “After being selected for MBBS, I had made up my mind to give up shooting. However, a national championship was being held in Bhopal, so I told myself I’ll call it quits after the tournament. I set a national record and life changed. I realised that I should not leave shooting,” said Samra.

So what of her medical course? “I haven't thought about it. I have no idea whether my college will consider me for a separate exam. I do not know what will happen about my academics,” she said, adding in the same breath: “I have set my sights on the next Olympics. I’ll give MBBS a thought only after that.”

The Punjab girl does not like pistols. It’s rifles for her.
On Sunday, as the reigning national champion, Samra began on a strong note in the qualification of the women’s 3P with 588 points, securing the second spot after China’s Zhang Qiongyue (594). Samra displayed excellent consistency in the finals to secure a bronze after she shot 403.9 in the top-eight ranking round. Zhang defeated Aneta Brabcova of the Czech Republic 16-8 for the gold.

Samra said that it was a big day for her. “I have played world cups and have been a regular part of the Indian team but there was no individual medal to my name. Today, I have made it and I am happy.”