Manoj Kumar was a part of the Indian squad that created history by winning haul of medals at the Invitation FXTM International Boxing Cup held in limassol, Cyprus. Having overcome several top boxers on his way to the silver medal, the Olympian is upbeat about his chances at the upcoming Asian Championships. He talks to Ajeyo Basu about the new rule changes, future tournaments and more
How was your experience in CyprusIJ
The experience was very nice. We faced top class boxers from different countries. We got a lot of medals. So it was a very good experience and has given a very big boost to our morale. There were boxers from several countries of Europe and Africa. Several of them were Olympians and medalists in World Championships.
This was among the first tournaments for us this year. One team went to Russia and another to Cyprus, both teams have done well.
How happy are you with your performanceIJ Did you expect to do betterIJ
I am very happy with my performances over there. I faced top quality boxers of different nations. Each of them had their different styles and techniques. I lost to a very experienced boxer from Algeria. I am obviously disappointed at missing out on the gold medal, but overall, I am happy with my performances over there.
Tell us about the final boutIJ
As I said, my opponent in the final was a very experienced. He has participated in several World Championships and Olympics. He had a very unique style which I found difficult to tackle. The first round we were tied on points, then I lost points in the second round and then I lost the third round by three points. Once he took the lead, I found it difficult to recover. He used his experience to maintain the lead till the end. Anyway, victory and defeat are a part of sport.
Which was your toughest fight in this tournamentIJ
I guess the toughest bout was in the first round against Spain. The first round is always a bit difficult because it is a bit tough to gain that energy and momentum, especially after going through the rigours of losing weight and making the cut. I won by a narrow margin of two points. That was a very close fight.
What lessons have you taken from your experience in this tournamentIJ
There were boxers from Spain, east European countries and also from Africa. Many of these nations have their own unique style of boxing. Some of my opponents had different styles of taking guard and different techniques. The boxing styles of African countries are quite different from those in Asian nations. The boxer from Algeria also had a very different technique.
You will now go for the Asian Championships next month...
Yes, now our next target is the Asian Championships. We are working hard at our preparations. The performances in Russia and Cyprus have given us a lot of confidence and we are quite hopeful of doing well.
The International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) has introduced some new rules and fights will now take place without the headgear. What will be the effect of these changesIJ
This will have a big impact on amateur boxing. It will be a totally different experience. Power punching will become more important now. There will be more emphasis on strength and we will see boxers fighting more from close range. It will lead to more injuries, but injuries are a part and parcel of boxing. We will just have to accept these changes and move on.
What kind of an effect will this have on India's medal prospects at the Asian ChampionshipsIJ
We are extremely confident of doing well. It will be a different experience for us since this will be the first time when we will be fighting without headgear. It is difficult to say what kind of an effect this rule will have (on our performance). We will get to know only after we start fighting under the new rules.
How do you think Indian boxers will cope with the changesIJ
Since this will be our first tournament under the new rules, it will be an unknown territory for us. Only after we start playing international bouts under the new rules we will have an idea of what it is really like. Right now, we are practicing with the new rules. We are having practice bouts without headgears.
You people must be getting a lot of injuries during practice...
We are practicing without headgear these days and there have been a few minor injuries like cuts and bruises. Some have got injuries to their ears, some have got cuts above the eyes while a few have bruises on the head.
Do you think that increased chances of injuries could lead to shorter careersIJ
Yes, that could be a possibility. One awkward punch can lead to an injury. But we will get to know how it is really like only when we compete in international events under the new rules.
Scoring rules will also be different. Are you keeping that in mind while practicingIJ
The scoring will be more similar to professional boxing. We are preparing for that during training.
The World Series of Boxing (WSB), which also featured Indian pugilists, saw amateur boxers competing without headgears. Will that experience come in handy nowIJ
Several Indian boxers including Jitender (Kumar) and Mandeep Jangra were a part of that tournament and maybe that experience will stand them in good stead. But for me personally, the Asian Championships will be my first experience because I did not participate in WSB nor did I watch any of the bouts.
Since the amateur game will become more like professional boxing, could we see Indian boxers opting to become professional, especially since the pro game is more lucrativeIJ
If we have an option of choosing between professional and amateur boxing, I feel that we should opt to remain amateur because according to me, it is more important to play for the honour of the nation. As amateurs, we can play in the prestigious tournaments like the Olympics, World Championships and Asian Games. By winning medals at these events, we can bring honour and prestige for the country. in professional boxing, a pugilist is only fighting for himself.
Will the fear factor affect your mind, especially due to the increased chances of injuryIJ
(laughs) Injuries are very much a part of boxing. luck also plays a big role. If anything has to happen, it will happen. The chances of injury are quite high, but I am not worried about that. If we worry too much about injuries, then our game will be affected. This is not a big deal. I will try to fight without fear and leave the rest to god.