World champion's triumph restores family honour: Kranti Goud's rise paves way for father's reinstatement in MP police

NEW DELHI: India women's World Cup hero Kranti Goud's meteoric rise has brought more than sporting glory to her family — it has restored long-lost dignity. More than a decade after being suspended from service, her father Munna Singh has been reinstated into the Madhya Pradesh Police, a decision the state government says was fulfilled following a promise made after his daughter became a world champion.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Madhya Pradesh Sports Minister Vishwas Sarang confirmed on Monday that Singh, a constable suspended in 2012 for alleged negligence during election duty, has been reinstated after 13 years. The long-pending matter reached a positive resolution following the intervention of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who directed the Police Headquarters to act. “This decision not only brings relief to the family but also serves as a clear example of the government's sensitivity, respect for athletes, and fair approach,” Sarang said in a statement. He added that the chief minister had assured Kranti during a felicitation ceremony — held after India's historic World Cup triumph — that her father's job would be restored.Calling it a humane gesture, Sarang said the move had fulfilled Kranti's long-cherished dream. “This decision has not only provided economic and social support to the family, but has also ensured that Kranti's father can retire with honour in a police uniform,” he said.For Kranti, the moment completes a journey that began on a dusty ground outside her home in Ghuwara village. Initially allowed to field only when boys were short of a player, she taught herself pace bowling by watching others play. Spotted by coach Rajiv Bilthre, her talent blossomed rapidly, culminating in an India debut in May last year and a stunning World Cup campaign where she took nine wickets, including a match-winning spell against Pakistan.