Manjit Singh made history in the Asian Games by winning a gold medal in the 800-meter race. He doesn't have a permanent job and the contract he had with ONGC wasn't renewed.
"He has no permanent job. The state government has snubbed his achievements time and again. He has applied for a job with the state government several times, but to no avail," Manjit's father Randhir Singh Chahal told the Times of India. "I hope now the government will not reject him now," he added.
Manjit has a very struggling story behind him. The runner had once decided to give up because of a hamstring injury. He was considered too old to run but his coach Amris motivated him and the result is here.
"People said he’s too old, 26, 27. I said yahi to time hai karneka, jab log kehte hai ki tum nahi kar sakte ho (the best time to do it is when people say you can’t).” He asked Manjit, “Ghar ko bhulega (will you forget about your home)?” Manjit’s reply gave him all he needed to hear: “Sir, main bhooloonga. Kya aap bhoologe (I will forget sir, but will you)?”
After winning the gold medal in Asian Games 2018, whole India lauded Manjit. He made everyone proud.
Cricket fraternity also dropped tweets for the gold medalist.
Here is what they wrote:
Wow! Stunning Run.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 28, 2018
Congratulations #ManjitSingh for the GOLD and #JinsonJohnson for the SILVER in Men's 800m final in #AsianGames2018 pic.twitter.com/X4YaYbzAsC
Moment of pride for India ????????
— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) August 28, 2018
Congratulations to Manjit Singh and Jinson Johnson on winning Gold????and Silver????in the Men's 800 metres. #AsianGames2018 pic.twitter.com/AdIwl9Ilyu
Another glorious day for India ????????! Congratulations @Pvsindhu1 , #ManjitSingh, #PinckyBalhara, #MalaprabhaJadhav, #JinsonJhonson, #MuhammedAnas, #MRPoovamma, #HimaDas & #ArokiaRajiv for making proud! #AsianGame2018 #IndiaAtAsianGames pic.twitter.com/zMiHvuHbP2
— Suresh Raina (@ImRaina) August 28, 2018
Great climax as #ManjitSingh in a brilliant run wins us a Gold while #JinsonJhonson won the Silver. Top effort #AsianGames2018 pic.twitter.com/3jAFBh9vNl
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) August 28, 2018
Congrats Manjit Singh on winning India's 9th GOLD????at the #AsianGames2018
— Parvinder Awana (@ParvinderAwana) August 28, 2018
Jinson Johnson also won Silver, coming just behind Manjit. Well done to both of you! pic.twitter.com/sZh8ahFwsO
What a sensational run from #ManjitSingh & #JinsonJohnson to win a Gold???? and Silver???? Medal respectively for India at the #AsianGames2018 800m men’s finals. Well done! pic.twitter.com/DkZ0Whckpq
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 28, 2018
What a stunning GOLD for #ManjitSingh . Great rush in the end to come from 4th to 1st.
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) August 28, 2018
Also great performance by Jinson Johnson on the silver in@the same event. Was some truly awesome stuff from these two #AsianGames2018 pic.twitter.com/Clcf0SAHfI