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Gaurav Solanki is India’s only pugilist in the final of the Commonwealth Youth Games currently taking place in Samoa. Solanki defeated Englishman Brandon Daord 3-0 in the semifinal to guarantee at least one silver medal in the country’s kitty.
Leichombam Bhimchand Singh (49kg) lost to Ireland's Stephen McKenna in the semifinal, picking up a bronze medal in the process. India’s other bronze medallist is Prayag Chauhan (64kg), who was unsuccessful in his semifinal bout, losing to Irishman Aidan Walsh.
Mandeep Jagra: “...the happiness and honour of representing country is far above turning professional.”
Top Indian boxer and recent Arjuna awardee Mandeep Jagra isn’t letting the accolades and pageantry get to his head. His eyes are firmly fixed on clinching a medal at the Rio Olympics. He said that he was quite surprised upon receiving the award but to him, it brings a bigger sense of responsibility and expectation. While he understands the distinction, he understand that it is only diligence that led to it and he will work doubly hard to transmute the hopes of a nation into an Olympic medal.
The Commonwealth silver medallist, nicknamed ‘Kartoos’, is training hard for two qualifying tournaments which will lead him to Rio, if successful. Jagra is also an Asian Games silver medallist, and while appreciative of AIBA president Ching-Kuo Wu’s statements that India has a very strong presence in Asian boxing, echoes the ambitions of his peers that they want to be the best in the world.
Jagra speaks about his mentor Akhil Kumar with great reverence. Kumar, a Commonwealth Games gold-medallist and Arjuna awardee, took Jagra under his wing in 2005. He aims to be just like Kumar, whom he refers to as ‘bhai’ and looks to him for counsel, in fair and foul weather.
With Vijender Singh set to make his professional boxing debut later this year, it is not far fetched to wonder if the doors for other boxers are opening. Singh, an Olympic bronze medallist and possibly India’s most well-known boxer, has signed a multi-year deal with London-based Queensberry Promotions and will fight six times in the first year of his contract. While respectful of Singh’s decision, Jagra asserts that the pride and happiness of representing India on a global stage far outweighs material incentives.
