It’s never easy to be consigned to the sidelines due to injury, especially when you know you are at the peak of your boxing powers. But India’s talented light heavyweight boxer Sumit Sangwan has put all that firmly behind him and is all braced up for the Asia-Oceania Olympic Qualifying Tournament scheduled to be held in Qian'an, China, from 23 March to 3 April.
The 23-year-old Haryana pugilist, supported by Olympic Gold Quest, makes a comeback to the national fold after being out in the wilderness for close to two years after sustaining a right hand injury at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. “I’m really pleased to play for the country after a long break. My hand injury has been frustrating but all that is a thing of the past,” says Sumit bubbling with excitement.
The boxer is part of a 13-member Indian boxing squad that will participate in the Asia-Oceania Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Sumit first hogged the headlines when he won the light heavyweight (81kg) gold in the 34th National Games in Jharkhand in 2011, before reinforcing his credentials winning the 2012 Asian Boxing Olympic Qualification Tournament in Astana and sealing his Olympic berth.
And now the Asia-Oceania Olympic Qualifying Tournament is an opportunity to qualify in style like he did in 2012. “I have fond memories of winning the 2012 Asian Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Astana, Kazakhstan. Hopefully I will attain an encore,” he oozes confidence.
Sumit, who is employed with ONGC, is coming off a long rehab program in Bengaluru before joining the national camp in NIS Patiala. The right thumb injury ensured he missed big-ticket events like the 2014 Asian Games, 2015 Asian Championship and 2015 AIBA World Championship.
Sumit won the gold medal at the 2015 Senior Nationals in Nagpur and was named the best boxer of the tournament. But at China, his work will be cut out for sure. “The competition in the light heavyweight category will be fierce with only three quotas for Rio Olympics. I will have to box really to reach the final to be assured of an Olympic spot. Entering the semifinals will not be enough as the losing semifinalists have to play in the box-out bout, so it is better to think of making it to the final and winning it and qualify in style,” he adds.
One hopes that Sumit does enough and features in his second Olympics in Rio.
