The Asian Championships this week would be your first major competition since the 2012 Olympics. Can you relive the 2012 Games for our readersIJ
It’s boxing and a single defeat means you're out of the competition so we need to keep working hard. That’s what we did during the Olympics also. london was my first Olympics and lack of experience cost me dear. I actually had the 2016 Olympics in mind but was eligible for 2012 so gave it my best shot.
And, the experience, a learning one for you all at an age when you are just about allowed to voteIJ
The boxer I lost to, the Mexican guy, had lost the Beijing Olympics in 2008. But it doesn’t mean that if he lost, I should also. However, it’s a game and someone has to lose. I took it as something that would make me work harder instead of ruing over bad luck. It was more of an opportunity to do away with the negatives in me.
Since then, the Indian Boxing Federation has been suspended. A feeling of not being able to represent your country can’t be a good one isn’t itIJ
When one is boxing abroad, everybody loves to fight for the Indian flag. It is saddening when one cannot write ‘India’ at the back of the vest while competing. But the AIBA ban hasn’t affected our training in any way. We might have missed a competition or two but that hasn’t resulted in any loss. Our boxers have done well on tours to Kazakhstan and China.
So what have you been up to in the past yearIJ
In the off-season, we increase our weights so that we can gain strength and power and as the competition nears, we concentrate on our weight according as per our category. When not boxing, I love to play football. It helps in maintaining stamina and endurance as also the leg strength. So, football is my hobby. I also love watching football, boxing and cricket.
Any idols from the cricketing worldIJ
Dhoni and Sachin, they’re legends.
Who do you look up to in you sport. Anyone who inspires youIJ
I’ve started following Mike Tyson among other international stars while in India it is Vijender Singh. He’s been a role model and the face of Indian boxing since Beijing.
But lately, though he has been cleared by the Sports Ministry, Vijender has been in the news for the wrong reasons...
There are millions and millions of people who follow Tyson and not because of his negative things but positive ones. In the same way, I follow Vijender in the manner of how he boxes, trains and represents the country. At the end of the day, I don’t know the inside story (in Vijender’s drug case).
Did you ever feel let down with the happenings and what transpiredIJ Were you relieved when Vijender came out not guiltyIJ
As I said I don’t know the inside story but Vijender is favourite of all boxers in the camp. From my side, I feel he hasn’t done anything and he is a clean guy. He is under WADA and has gone for dope tests whenever required so he is clean. Nobody would mark him negative.
Apart from the Asian Championships, what other competitions would you be featuring inIJ
We now have the Asian and then the World Champions are coming up next. These are our targets for which we are preparing hard.
Any boxers you need to be wary of in the competitionIJ
There would be competition from countries like Kazakhstan, China, Uzbekistan and Thailand but all competitions are tough and so I’ll have to take the competition as it comes.
Any injury or niggleIJ
No injuries, all fit and ready to go.
There is also a change in the points scoring system. How do you intend on tackling itIJ
In order to adjust to the new scoring, I am changing the game plan. While one will continue to get points for the punching blow, a round will now be of two minutes which means I would have to be more aggressive.
A lot of sportspersons have to give up on studies to concentrate on their game. Have youIJ
I am also continuing with my studies and am in my second year of BA from Guwahati Open University. It’s difficult to manage both so I do my homework and study whenever I get time.