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Santosh Harijan is not someone who was born with the silver spoon. Coming from a small town called Mapusa in north Goa, life was not always a vacation for Santosh. With lack of proper training facilities in his town and his poor financial condition, the 23 year old has grinded his way through to emerge as one of the rising stars of Indian Boxing.
A gold medalist of the junior Asian championship in 2005 in the light flyweight category, he has also won two silver medals in the National Championships in 2009 and 2010. In the international arena, he has already won a gold at the Challenge Cup in Sri Lanka and a bronze at the Memorial Cup in Kazakhstan earlier this year. His biggest achievement came July this year when he won the bronze medal in the Giraldo Córdova Cardin memorial boxing tournament in Cuba. And with most Cuban boxers officials all praise for him, Harijan has now become a regular member of the Indian boxing squad.
Talking to Sambhav Khetarpal for sportskeeda, the shy and introvert boxer talks about his childhood days, struggles, dreams and life beyond boxing.
Excerpts:
Sambhav Khetarpal (SK): Tell us something about your childhood days? How did boxing happen to you?
Santosh Harijan: I was born in a small town called Mapusa in North Goa. Like other sportsmen coming from Goa, I also did not come from a rich family. In our town, very few people know about boxing. I joined the Mapusa Sports Complex and started my boxing career from there. Despite all the financial problems, my family always supported to me to take up boxing as a sport.
SK: As a kid, were you always interested in boxing or someone motivated you to take up boxing as a sport?
Santosh Harijan: As a kid, I was fascinated by watching boxing and always wanted to represent India in boxing. The secretary of the Goan Boxing Federation, Lene De Gama was a great help as he motivated me to choose boxing as a career and also provided financial assistance whenever required.
SK: You are one of the few pugilists who do not come from Bhiwani. What problems did you have to face coming from the state of Goa where Boxing is not a popular sport?
Santosh Harijan: Coming from Goa, the main problem was the lack of awareness among people for Boxing. Football is the most popular sport here with many local football clubs around but very few boxing academies. Although we had a sports complex for boxing but always lacked top class coaches. Unlike Bhiwani, where there are big centers for boxing with world class coaching facilities, we always had to struggle to find good coaches. We only had few senior boxers who helped us with our training.
SK: We have heard that you used to train in your local village by punching coconut trees as there weren’t enough training facilities to practice? Is it true?
Santosh Harijan: (Laughs) who told you this? Although we did lack proper training facilities but we did not practice by punching coconut trees. But it is true that me and my friends had to arrange for punching bags and used to practice by punching them in our local village
SK: You caught everyone’s eye during the Indian team’s recent campaign at the Giraldo Córdova Cardin memorial boxing tournament in Cuba. And now that you are regular member of the Indian boxing squad, how does it feel to be in the same league with boxers like Vijender Singh and Akhil Kumar?
Santosh Harijan: Its feels great to train alongside Vijender Singh and Akhil Kumar. Both of them are a great motivation for young boxers like me. There is so much to learn when you practice alongside them. Vijender ji always keeps giving me tips to improve my punches and footwork. And more than that, he also has a very good sense of humor.(Mahaul acha rakhte hain) (Laughs)
SK: We have heard that your Cuban coach BI Fernandez has helped you immensely grow as a boxer. How do thing he has been different from the regular Indian coaches?
Santosh Harijan: He has been a great help to me. With the new points system introduced in boxing, he brings all the modern techniques which can help us take advantage of the new system and increase our score during a bout. Earlier, a point was awarded only after all three judges agreed, but now, a single judge can also award a point to a punch.
SK: What all training regime do you undergo to remain fit and compete at the top level ?
Santosh Harijan: I have different training schedules for different days of a week. I do all kinds of training such as running, skipping, strengthening, bag punching etc. Along with that, I also take good care of my diet.
SK: What do you think of your own personal prospects in the London Olympic 2012 and how has the preparation been going so far?
Santosh Harijan: The preparation has been going very well. Along with my regular training, I am also putting in extra training to get myself ready for the London Olympics. I will try my best win the gold in London 2012.
SK: Indian Boxers are considerably doing well in the International arena, what do you think is the prospect of other Indian Boxers in the London Olympic 2012?
Santosh Harijan: I am hoping that we will perform even better than the previous Beijing Olympics. With young boxers like Suronjoy Singh and Manoj Kumar performing well, I hope that more Indian boxers will qualify for London and make India proud.
SK: Which others events do have it lined up before the Olympic 2012?
Santosh Harijan: I will be going for the Asian Championships in January 2012 which will be the second Olympic qualifiers. I will be taking part in the national games later this year.
SK: Who has been your Idol or role model?
Santosh Harijan: Santosh Ghurmole, who is one of the senior boxers here is Goa, has been my role model. Also, Antriksh Lakra , who qualified in the world championships in 2008, is also someone whom I look upto in boxing.
SK: Recently, many Indian athletes tested positive for using banned performance enhancing steroids. Whom do you consider responsible for this mess- Is it the players or the administration running the sport?
Santosh Harijan: I think it is the players who are responsible for this mess. It is the moral duty of a player to know what drug he is taking. The player should go and ask the pros and cons of a particular drug to his coaches because at the end of the day it’s a player’s career which is at stake. No coach or administration will come up and take responsibility of giving a banned drug to a player.
SK: You are just 23 and still have a long way to go. So what would you like to achieve before you hang up your gloves?
Santosh Harijan: Right now, my one and only aim is to win the Gold medal in the London Olympics next year. I am working very hard towards achieving my goal and I hope I can make my country proud by winning the Gold medal.
SK: Tell us something about your persona lifel. What are your hobbies apart from Boxing?
Santosh Harijan: Well, I love to play football with my friends. I also like to swim whenever I get time.
SK: Favorite football player?
Santosh Harijan: Messi..err..no Ronaldo. (Laughs)
SK: Finally, what message would you like to leave for young boxers and our readers?
Santosh Harijan: I would tell them that always keep working hard in life. Even if you fail once if life, do not stop. Believe in God and keep putting in your best efforts and I am sure that you’ll succeed one day.
SK: Thank you so much Santosh for talking to sportskeeda. We wish you all the best for all your future endeavors.
Santosh Harijan: Thanks a lot Sambhav. It was nice talking to you.
