National Games: Training away from home, boxers eager to punch their way to glory

Panaji: The Goan boxing contingent is determined to punch above its weight and win medals for the state at the 37th National Games to be held here from October 26.

In the last edition in Gujarat, boxing contributed to Goa’s overall tally of five bronze medals when Pushpendra Rathi finished on the podium in the 75 and above weight category.

This time around, with the Games being held at home for the first time, the boxers are keen to meet growing expectations.

Goa will field seven men and six boxers in the women’s category. The 13 boxers have been honing their skills outside the state for a long time now.

Sports of Authority of Goa (SAG) coaches Santosh Birmole and Nilesh Khanolkar are pushing the men’s team at the Army Sports Institute in Pune with help from army coach Madan Lal.

Meanwhile, in Bellary, Karnataka, Chitambaram Naik and Valanky Dumaskar are overseeing preparation of the women boxers.

“The training is going well. Some of the boys were there with me in the India camp and I know their capabilities,” Santosh told TOI.

Rathi, who won bronze last year, has not made it to the state squad but the Goa Boxing Association (GBA) is confident that the home pugilists will add to its medal tally.

“We are aiming for nothing less than a gold since we have been working hard for the past two months. We have good training partners in the residential camp and their level is at its peak,” said Santosh.

AK Roshan, Ayush Sai and Pralhad Panda have worked their way up in the state teams, while Goa have further strengthened their side with the inclusion of Akash Gorkha (63.5kg), Rajat (71kg), Lokesh (80kg) and Gaurav Chauhan (92+kg).

The women’s team is equally capable.

Shrisha Jampula (66kg) won a bronze at the senior nationals, besides a silver and two bronze medals at the school nationals.

“The way the boxers are training and putting in the hard work, I feel we must get a very good haul of medals,” said SAG coach Chitambaram.

Suman Yadav (54kg) won gold at the school nationals and has two bronze medals as well

“There are a lot of aspects we need to consider in boxing as the results are not always guaranteed. It depends on the confidence, besides experience matters too. If they stick to the game plan, we will get results,” said Chitambaram.

Boxing will take place at the Peddem Sports Complex, Mapusa, from November 1-8.

Goa squad: Women: Sakshi Chaudhary (50kg), Suman Yadav (54kg), Alina D’Souza (57kg), Niharika Gonella (60kg), Shrisha Jampula (66kg), Sanamacha Chanu (75kg).

Men: AK Roshan (51kg), Pralhad Panda (57kg), Akash Gorkha (63.5kg), Rajat (71kg), Lokesh (80kg), Ayush Sai (92kg) and Gaurav Chauhan (92+kg).