We are fighters... we hate to lose,” says 23-year-old Suranjoy Singh, one of the many young pugilists hailing from the North-Eastern state of Manipur.
Suranjoy, a native of a small village called Uchiwalewirak, near Imphal, says Manipur is full of boxers and taekwondo enthusiasts. “We like any sport that involves physical contact, especially the martial arts. Boxing is very popular among young people (here), particularly after Dingko Singh won gold in Asian Games. It comes naturally to us,” says Suranjoy.
Suranjoy himself rose to fame with his gold-winning achievement at the Asian Championship in fly weight category (51 kg) at Zhuahi, China earlier this year. He beat the local pugilist Li Chao in the final. Suranjoy’s title success ended a 15-year gold medal drought for India. Rajkumar Sangwan was the last Indian to win gold for India at the Asian Championships at Tehran in 1994.
Outlining his aspirations, the Services boxer says, “I want to win a medal in Olympics and World Championship. I think the gap between the Indian and international boxers is narrowing. We are good. It is all about confidence and luck.” Suranjoy, who impressed recently with his gold-winning run in the 56th National Boxing Championship in Hyderabad, said Vijender Singh “has changed the face of boxing” in India with his bronze winning efforts at Beijing Olympics and the World Amateur Championships in Milan.
Explaining his own first-round elimination at the World Championships in Milan, Suranjoy said, “I went with great hope, particularly after my performance in the Asian Championship. (But) I lost in the first round. It was a very disappointing outing. I think I was bit unlucky.”
Despite Suranjoy’s disappointing show in Milan, his Cuban coach, BI Fernandez, firmly believes his ward has the potential to win an Olympic medal or even become a world champion. “He is an aggressive boxer. I like the way he trains and has good boxing sense. He is classy. He can be a world champion,” he says.
Though Suranjoy knows that his coach’s high opinion of him is true, he is also aware reaching the top needs a lot of hard work. “We have to be skilful and energetic to fight the top boxers of the world. It is a power game. And it is also important to have a good defence. Speed is always necessary in boxing and the boxers have to do a lot of training for footwork. One has to be nimble-footed with enough endurance to outwit his opponent,” says Suranjoy.
A fan of Mike Tyson, Suranjoy says he admires the American’s brute power and his “very strong punch.” “I like the way he knocked down his rivals. He liked to counter-attack. It was brutal and fatal,” says Suranjoy, who himself shows no mercy to opponents.
Boxing is in Suranjoy’s blood. His brother, Suronjit competed in the feather weight category. He won gold in a YMCA International meet at Delhi.
“I was never into boxing initially. I was more interested in football and played for a club as a striker. But I got into boxing when my brother needed a sparring partner at home and I got attracted to the sport. Seeing my interest, my brother encouraged me to take to boxing,” recalls Suranjoy.
Ironically, Suronjit quit boxing because of accident and Suranjoy’s career blossomed. Clinching his first gold in the sub-junior category in the 2000 YMCA meet at Delhi, winning has become a habit for this attacking boxer.
He was the best boxer in the 16th Sub-junior nationals and he was picked for the World Cadet championship. But he lost in the quarterfinals. That defeat made Suranjoy a more determined boxer. “I hate to lose,” says Suranjoy, who won gold in the 2003 National Games.
Joining the Navy in 2003, Suranjoy scaled new heights and was bronze medallist in the 2004 junior world boxing. It was also in 2004 that he made heads turn, when he upset the Asian Games medallist Ali Qamar in the Senior National Championship.
Till his victory over Qamar, Suranjoy had been unbeaten in his weight category. But after the high point came the low point as Suranjoy faltered and his career ran into rough weather. “There was sudden loss of form. I was bewildered. I was out of the reckoning for three years before I bounced back last year. (Suranjoy won the National Championship). It was thanks to the efforts of GS Sandhu, Dinkgo Singh and others, who helped me regain confidence.”
Since his comeback last year, Suranjoy has begun to unleash his full repertoire of punches. Clinically fast and solid, this Manipur lad is primed to go places.
The Suranjoy Singh story
* Suranjoy Singh gave India its first Asian Boxing Championship gold in 15 years at Zhuahi, China, in June, beating Li Chao of China 9-8 in a thrilling encounter.
* The last gold medal for India in the Asian Boxing Championship had come in the 1994 edition in Tehran when Rajkumar Sangwan finished on top in the super heavyweight category.
* The Manipur Governor gave a cash award of Rs 30,000 on Suranjoy’s return home with the coveted medal
* Suranjoy’s career collection, so far, includes nine gold, one silver and the same number of bronze medals in national-level competition.
* He was the best boxer in the 16th sub-junior nationals and he was picked for the World Cadet Championship where he lost in the quarterfinals.
* His brother, Suronjit, competed in the featherweight category and won gold in a YMCA international meet.
* Joining the Navy in 2003, Suranjoy scaled new heights, winning the gold in the 2004 World Junior Boxing C’ship.
-- das@epmltd.com