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Surrey's Nijjar sprints her way to Paris Olympics on Canada's 4x400 relay team

'This is the first Indo-Canadian girl in track and field at the Olympics in Canadian history,' coach says
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Surrey-raised sprinter Jasneet Nijjar on the track representing Washington State Cougars.

Surrey-raised sprinter Jasneet Nijjar has made the Team Canada roster of track athletes headed to the Summer Olympics for competition starting Aug. 2.

A Queen Elizabeth Secondary grad, she'll be on the 4x400M women's relay team in Paris.

Nijjar was among the four dozen Games-bound athletes announced July 2 by Athletics Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee.

A member of Washington State Cougars track team in recent years, Nijjar long ago began training with Jessie Dosanjh, a founding member of Universal Athletics Club in Surrey and Delta.

"This is the first Indo-Canadian girl in track and field at the Olympics in Canadian history," an elated Dosanjh said Wednesday (July 3). "Nobody made it before to the national team, and hopefully other girls follow in her footsteps."

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Surrey-raised sprinter Jasneet Nijjar in Washington State Cougars colours. Photo: wsucougars.com

Nijjar, 23, started with Universal when she was seven years old, when she first came to the track with older siblings.

"As a coach, you cannot have a better feeling than this, just wonderful," Dosanjh said. "Not only is she a great athlete, she's a brilliant person, as a human being, a student, so nice to see this. I feel so proud."

On a Team Canada "qualification tracker" website, Nijjar is listed on the relay team along with Aiyanna Stiverne, Kyra Constantine, Lauren Gale, Madeline Price and Zoe Sherar.

In Paris, track and field will take place Aug. 2 to 10 at the Stade de France. 



Tom Zillich

About the Author: Tom Zillich

I cover entertainment, sports and news for Surrey Now-Leader and Black Press Media
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