New Delhi: The celebration surrounding Jadumani Singh’s silver medal has ignited joy within Manipur’s boxing community. This achievement is particularly significant as the state has been searching for a new champion to uphold its esteemed boxing tradition following Mary Kom’s retirement.
Event Context
In recent years, Manipur has experienced significant social unrest, which has overshadowed the realm of sports. This turbulent environment has posed substantial challenges for training, organizing state tournaments, and competing at national levels. Amid these difficulties, Jadumani’s achievement of a silver medal in Glasgow stands out as a beacon of hope for Manipur’s boxing community.
“Many boxers in Manipur come from underprivileged backgrounds. I understand the sacrifices I have made to achieve this success. Young athletes often lack knowledge about the elite level of the sport. I only gained this understanding after joining the ASI. It is crucial to enhance grassroots facilities, emphasizing scientific training and sports psychology,” Jadumani explained. “I am thankful to Sarita Di for her constant encouragement and guidance.”
In Guwahati and Itanagar, the NCOEs offer boxing programs. Sarita notes that there are approximately 27 academies in Manipur. While financial assistance from Khelo India has been beneficial, the operational costs of these academies remain high. “Providing athletes with a proper diet is essential, and that requires funding. They also need to purchase flight tickets for domestic competitions, which can be quite expensive. We coordinate these arrangements,” she added.
In recent years, state-level competitions and training have been hampered due to ongoing unrest and protests. Suranjoy Singh, a former international boxer and current national coach, remarks, “Those residing in the academies can continue training, but boxers traveling from remote areas often face disruptions.”
Player Focus
National level medals had become scarce. Boxers like Jadumani were performing well in junior and youth competitions, but their success on the international front was limited. Jadumani’s achievements have instilled confidence that success is attainable at the highest levels, she remarked.
Upon his arrival in Imphal on Wednesday, Jadumani was met by a large crowd at the airport, followed by a celebration to honor his victory. The boxer, who secured a silver medal in the 55kg category, trains at the Army Sports Institute in Pune (ASI). He emphasized the need for enhanced facilities at the grassroots level. “I visited home for just two weeks last year, and returning with a medal from Glasgow brings me immense joy. Seeing the excitement of the local community and receiving such a warm welcome fills me with pride,” he shared.
Sarita advocates for the inclusion of boxing in the programs at the SAI National Centre of Excellence in Imphal. “We have had discussions with SAI officials about this. The NCOE in Imphal previously offered boxing, which greatly benefited us. We desperately need a high-performance center that can provide elite boxers with training, sports science resources, and proper nutrition in Manipur.”
He also emphasized the necessity of more competitions at national and zonal levels for boxers, stating that these events would create additional opportunities. “A dedicated high-performance NCOE for boxers would be extremely beneficial,” he asserted.
Team Analysis
Manipur has produced some of India’s most renowned boxers, including MC Mary Kom, Dingko Singh, Sarita Devi, and Suranjoy Singh. However, the last significant international medal for the state was secured by Mary Kom during the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, where she claimed gold in the light flyweight category. Unfortunately, no boxers from Manipur qualified for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Sarita Devi, a former medallist at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games who now operates a boxing academy in Manipur, emphasizes the importance of Jadumani’s recent victory. She states, ‘This was essential for the boxing scene in Manipur. Following a lengthy period without any international accolades, it was crucial for up-and-coming athletes to have a role model from their contemporaries. The boxing community in Manipur has been waiting for a moment like this for the past eight years,’ she shared with HT.
Match Outlook
Sarita reflects on the challenges of maintaining focus on the sport over the past three years. She states, ‘We have put in immense effort to sustain the sport and offer training to the younger generation. Jadumani’s success will mark a new beginning for boxing in Manipur.’
