Can You Win a Medal if No One Believes in You? These Boxers Did!

Indian boxers, who are set to participate in the Youth World Championship, speak to The Quint about their journey.

India’s youth women boxers Jyoti and Sakshi speak to The Quint.

(Photo: The Quint)

Indian boxers are all set to participate in the AIBA Youth Women World Championship, scheduled to kick-off in Guwahati on 19 November.

The Quint spoke to Indian boxers Jyoti, Sakshi and Neetu, and asked them about their boxing journey so far.

Jyoti revealed that when she began boxing, the people in her village (in Rohtak district), would discourage her by telling her the sport was unsuitable for girls. But my mother supported me and made me continue training, she recalls. Jyoti clinched a gold medal at the 6th Golden Glove women's Boxing Tournament in Serbia and a silver medal at the 31st International Ahmet Comert Boxing Tournament in Istanbul.

On the other hand, Sakshi said that she started boxing only after watching Vijender Singh’s fights.

Earlier, five-time World Championships gold medallist and Olympic bronze medallist Mary Kom had said that senior boxers were stuck on the old style of boxing, and lauded the younger crop of boxers for fighting intelligently.

Video Editor: Mohd Irshad Alam
Interviews taken by: Anjana Dutta and Udita Dutta

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