Our Sports Reporter
GUWAHATI: The boxing facilities were very limited in the State when she was in the ring. But that wasn't a hindrance for former boxer Kalpana Choudhury. A bronze in the World Championship Boxing, gold in the Asian Boxing Championship, multiple medals from National Games and National Boxing championships-all reveal how brilliant she was. In a conversation with The Sentinel Kalpana, who is now associated with NF Railway Boxing Academy, shared her story and future plans. Here is the excerpt.
The Sentinel (TS): Is boxing still a favourite event in your life?
Kalpana: Oh! Yes. It's in my blood. I can't spend a single day without thinking about boxing even though I have quit the game much earlier.
TS: Share your present engagement with the game?
Kalpana: Right now I am working with the boxers of NF Railway Boxing Academy. Some of the senior boxers of the State like Bhagyabati Kachari, Pwilao Basumatari also visit our academy on a regular basis.
TS : How was the boxing scenario of Assam during your days?
Kalpana: It's not so organized as it's now. During our days hardly the boxers got any facility to work in the gym. The numbers of coaches too were very limited. I can still remember that Amar Deka was the lone coach when I started boxing and at the fag-end of my career I got the service of Padum Rava. But now the scenario has changed and present-day boxers getting quality training in the state as well as abroad. The number of rings and coaches also increased.
TS: Still you managed to become a world beater!
Kalpana: I should say it's the love towards the game that made me as well as a few other boxers from the state like Pranamika, Jennifer…in my era to do well in the ring. We tried to give more than 100 per cent during the training and most important things were that all of us were much disciplined.
TS: Do you have any big plans for the State boxers?
Kalpana: Off course. I have planned to start a boxing academy and produce boxers like Mary Kom from our State. I have appealed to the Government to help me in this regard. If my plan is materialized I will try my best to take the boxing of the State to the next level.
TS: Your favorite moments in the ring.
Kalpana: It's winning a bronze medal from the third World Championship held in Russia (2005). That performance made me the first women boxer from Assam to bring a medal from the World championship.
TS: How do you see the chances of Lovlina in the coming Olympics?
Kalpana: Lovlina is a very good boxer. What I have found best in her is that she is very laborious and disciplined. I feel Lovlina has a good chance to make podium finish in Japan.