The second edition of Elite Men’s National Boxing Championship, which drew to a close here on Monday, was a big hit with over 300 boxers from 37 States and sports promotion boards participating in it. Swarnabharati Indoor Stadium, venue of the tournament hosted by the Railway Sports Promotion Board, was brimming with spectators and boxing lovers on all days particularly on the last three days. With drum beats, continuous claps and whistles provided perfect platform for finals of the mega event.
Though home team members made an early exit from the tournament it did not deter mood of the non-partisan spectators of the City of Destiny.
Top favourite of the tournament Manoj Kumar said he was thrilled by the crowd support and Visakhapatnam edition of the tournament was the best-ever in domestic circuit. Manoj Kumar said the tournament gave him the impetus for the future international tournaments, including Tokyo Olympics for which he will be undergoing hectic training schedule.
He said boxing needed more support from Central and State governments and boxers should be patronised like cricketers.
Akhil Kumar, Haryana coach, too said Visakhapatnam was the best and people were very friendly. Regarding diet, he said 90% of boxers in Haryana were vegetarians and they follow strict diet menu, which would mostly comprise milk and dairy products. He, however, said it was myth that non-veggies would only do better in sports like boxing, weightlifting, kabaddi and athletics. He said Railways and Services ruled the roost in the championship.
Annapurna, kabaddi player and first Inter student of Bullayya College, who along with her classmates watched boxing bouts, said she would not miss national championship of any game and sport if they were held in the city. It was good to see the cream of boxing at the championship, she said Rophit Sharma of Goa, who lost to boxer from Karnataka in quarters, said Visakhapatnam was cleaner than Goa. He said he was floored by the beauty of the city and its landscape.
He said he was not alone and most of the players who had come to the city were also awed by the city’s landscape.
Benson Smith, Jharkhand coach, said Visakhapatnam edition of the tournament was better than last year’s championship held in Guwahati. He said boxing was a game of ‘6 punches and 6 defences’. Young talent would emerge at the domestic tournaments and was happy to see many aspiring boxers during the championship at Visakhapatnam too. He was all praise for city and its hospitality.
Crowd favourite
Local lad K Shyam Kumar, who represented Railways, was the crowds sought-after pugilist, who lived up to their expectations. Shyam Kumar owed his success to Railways and its chief coach.
Maximum claps and whistles were, however, reserved for Santosh Harijan of Goa, who enthralled the audience with his peculiar movements in the ring. Santosh said boxing was a game of punches and he wanted the crowd to enjoy through his acts in the ring. BFI president Ajay Singh said participation of a large number of boxers showed how important this tournament was for boxers.
T Raviraju, former corporate and secretary of State boxing association, who acted as one of judges at the tournament, said the city was hosting the senior national boxing championship of the second time. It earlier hosted in the year 1999 at police barracks, he said and added that SAI had provided rings for the tournament and Railways had extended financial help.
He said like Railways, steel plant and port trust should also encourage boxing players from the city.
