Nari Shakti Puraskar for centenarian sprinter Man Kaur

Chandigarh: Centenarian sprinter Man Kaur will be conferred the prestigious Nari Shakti Puraskar for 2019 on March 8 for her exceptional contribution towards women empowerment.

The country's highest civilian honour for women will be presented by President Ram Nath Kovind on International Women's Day, Kaur's 82-year-old son Gurdev Singh told PTI on Saturday.

"It is a matter of great pleasure to inform you that you have been selected for the prestigious Nari Shakti Puraskar, 2019, for your exceptional contribution towards women empowerment. The Puraskar carries an honorarium of Rs 2 lakh and a Certificate," according to the letter received by Man Kaur from the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development.

"The award will be presented by the Hon'ble President in a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi, on March 8, on the occasion of International Women's Day..." The 104-year-old Kaur won her first medal in 2007 at the Chandigarh Masters Athletics meet, in which she ran "for the heck of it" after seeing Gurdev, eldest of her three children, take part in a race in Patiala.