Muktsar boy Gurkeerat selected in ODI team; Belongs to a politically influential family

Muktsar boy Gurkeerat selected in ODI team

Belongs to a politically influential family

Gurkeerat Mann

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, September 20

Gurkeerat Mann, who hails from Baam village near here, was today selected in the One Day International (ODI) cricket team. Mann is the first sportsperson of the family that is politically well connected.

Gurkeerat’s father Rupinder Singh is a District Mandi Officer (Flying Squad) at Punjab Mandi Board’s headquarters in Mohali. His father’s first cousins are former CWC member Jagmeet Brar and Kotkapura ex-MLA Ripjit Brar.

The cricketer’s maternal grandfather late Mohinder Saiyanwala was Local Bodies Minister in the government of Surjit Singh Barnala. Gurkeerat is also related to Youth Akali Dal’s Malwa zone in charge Kanwarjit Singh ‘Rozi’ Barkandi.

Though Gurkeerat was born in Muktsar district, his family shifted to Mohali when his father got selected in the Punjab Mandi Board in 1990-91.

Speaking over the phone, Gurkeerat’s father said, “I am getting a number of phone calls from relatives, friends, but I have not yet congratulated my son as he is playing a match in Bengaluru.”

He said, “My son along with his coach Balwinder Singh ‘Tinku’ worked very hard to achieve this. Gurkeerat is the first one from our family to pursue sports seriously.”

Meanwhile, the residents of Baam village are celebrating his success. “Gurkeerat has inspired many youngsters in this area,” said villagers. Gurkeerat is the only son in the family. His elder sister is married.

Courtesy: The Tribune