I have cleared all exams and all the certificates are legal: Harmanpreet Kaur

Kaur had been appointed the Deputy Superintendent of Police by the Punjab government after her heroics in the 2017 World Cup, which included a blistering 171 not out in the semi-final against Australia. However, suddenly on July 2, reports took media on fire when Punjab police were set to demote Kaur to the rank of a constable with the Chaudhary Charan Singh University of Meerut saying Harmanpreet's enrollment number did not exist in their records.

Kaur who was quiet until yesterday said, "I respect my department. Whatever is coming my way, good or bad, my department would know. My degree is not fake. I did my graduation eight years ago, after completing Class XII." She also notified that she had even been accepted into a postgraduate course on the basis of her graduate degree, but couldn't complete because of national commitments especially overseas tour.

Talking to Times of India reporters she clears the point that "Nobody goes to head office to verify enrollment number. If I am playing, my focus is obviously on cricket. Apart from that, I just wanted to complete my graduation." When asked in detail about her education she replied," I completed my graduation through distance learning from Chaudhary Charan Singh University in 2009-2011. Earlier I was pursuing graduation from a college in Jalandhar, where I completed my first year. Thereafter, I was not able to pursue it as my cricketing schedule and the exam dates used to clash. Besides that, as the college principal had changed and they did not like me pursuing sports, I had to migrate to another university. I have been playing for India since my Class XII completion."

She added, "I cleared all my exams and my every certificate is legal. My examination centre used to be in Delhi. The subjects I learned were sociology, political science, English and general awareness. I was employed by the Indian Railways and given the rank of office superintendent, in Mumbai with the same degree".

Harmanpreet Kaur also said that till date the Punjab police have not communicated officially with her about the demotion in rank. "The department should initiate action against me. I am waiting for word from my department. I have not received any notice from my department."

When asked about her final say on this issue she replied, "I am a sportsperson and don’t want to get into all these issues. So, whatever my department finds it can act accordingly. This job was a gift for playing well. I am thankful to the government for giving me this position. So, let them do their duties. I have neither the calibre nor the patience to fight such things".

(As published in the Times of India)