The Hindu : Sport : Akhil inspires Joshna too

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Akhil inspires Joshna too

Jaipur: Olympian Akhil Kumar has not just inspired fellow boxers but also squash player Joshna Chinappa, who has credited her improved level of fitness to a training stint with the pugilist and his physio Heath Matthews.

Joshna said she trained with Akhil and Matthews at Bangalore in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics, where Akhil went on to stun the reigning World champion before bowing out in the quarterfinals.

“Though I have matured as a player and feel that I am technically okay, I suffer because of tough draws and perhaps lack in fitness too. Fitness is as important as skills in international sports. I joined Matthews at Bangalore and it was there that I realised what fitness means,” said Joshna.

“Akhil was there preparing for Olympics. He was a great inspiration for me. He is sincere in his training and caring about others,” she added. “He used to worry more about preparations of his fellow boxers like Jitender Kumar and Vijender Singh who were training at Patiala.

Serious about workouts

“Akhil was serious about his work-outs and the trademark Haryana-style aggression was also there. Boxing keeps you on your toes. I still feel bubbling energy and that I am on my toes,” she added. Joshna said she followed Akhil’s progress at the Olympics and felt sad when he missed out on a medal. “It is unfortunate that Akhil and Jitendra missed a medal.”

Talking about her own game, Joshna said she was being helped by British coach Malcolm Wilstrop.

“I am more at ease in Britain and have Sourav Ghoshal there too. Since my patch up with SRFI, I also train at SRFI centre in Chennai under Indian coach Cyrus Poncha. “The arrangement has benefited both me and the federation. Though I mostly train in England I needed some place in Chennai whenever I was there,” Joshna, who was at loggerheads with SRFI till some time ago, said. — PTI

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