Vijayawada: There has been a radical shift in people’s attitude towards boxing, long perceived to be a sport not for the gentle folk.
This change of perception has got much to do with the likes of international boxers Vijender Singh of Haryana, and Mary Kom of Manipur who have achieved global success.
These days, every boxing coaching centre in Krishna district is full, with eager boys and girls learning the ropes of the sport.
Parents are encouraging their wards not just to learn how to box, but also traditional sports like kabaddi, kho kho, badminton and tennis etc.
At present, about 180 to 200 children in sub junior, junior and senior categories are getting training in the four coaching centres in the district, two in Vijayawada, one at Vuyyuru and the other at Gudivada. However, only about 25 of them are girls.
Added to this are the two camps organised by the Krishna District Boxing association headed by U.V. Raghavulu in Vijayawada, while the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh run coaching centre at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium trains 65 persons.
Coached by SAAP, P. Vaishanavi of Bhavanipuram in Vijayawada won the gold at state level and displayed her talent during the National School Games-2018 in Assam.
Ch. Raghavendra Rao, a light heavyweight proved his mettle in the Senior Nationals in 2017 while B. Akhil won the state silver in the super heavyweight category in the Youth Nationals in 2018, Haryana.
G. Sai, a student of Vikas College, bagged the gold in inter college competitions and represented the state in All-India Inter-Universities Championship 2019.
Chaitanya of Vijayawada got a seat in a medical college in the sports quota.
SAAP coach Patti Isaq told this newspaper that boxing may appear to be undisciplined but one should know that the game and the sportspersons are completely disciplined. He said that boxing is a Class-1 game and there are many chances where boxers, if they are talented, get jobs and are more preferred than others in allocation of professional seats in sports quota.
Mr Isaq said that boxing is good for health and many veteran and middle-aged people are now taking training.
Advocate R. Kurunakar Babu, whose child is a budding boxer, said: “Though the coaching is good, the lack of international standard facilities and boxing rings are the major hurdles in the development of the sport in the district. SAAP purchased boxing equipment in 2016-17, and we came to know that a few kits were left unused and gathering dust.”
National-level boxer P. Vaishanavi said that girls can box well and achieve international fame. “Girls are sometimes forced to spar with boys as it is difficult to find sparring partners,” she said.
