India Open: Young boxers as volunteers getting the much-needed motivation

Guwahati: For Deepak Kumar and Debasish Saikia who have been working as volunteers at the ongoing India Open Boxing Tournament at Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Indoor stadium in Guwahati, this event is providing them the much needed motivation to go to the next level. Both the youngsters are the promising boxers undergoing training at the Sports Authority of India (SAI). “Lovlina (ba) (elder sister), Jamuna, Ankushita and others…we used to practice together at the SAI. It’s great to watch them play at the international level. They have advanced to a great extent. Even other team India members from Haryana…I know them all. We have trained together in the national camps. It’s a different kind of feeling watching them wear the national badge. It has given me a new ‘josh’ to work even harder and achieve my goal of representing my country,” Deepak Kumar told The Bridge in between his hectic schedule as a volunteer. Nineteen-year old Deepak who has won medals at the national level in sub-junior tournaments said that next time, he wants to be inside the ring not as a volunteer. “We are having the senior inter-districts from July and I’m working hard for the tournament. I hope to be inside the ring representing my country,” Deepak, a native of Guwahati, added. For Debasish Saikia, another aspiring pugilist from SAI Guwahati, it’s a great opportunity for him to be a part of the mega event. “I was here during the AIBA Youth Women Championship in 2017 as a spectator. But this one has been a different experience to be working as a volunteer. We are also getting the opportunity to watch the world class players from close and also to interact with them. I would say, it’s a great platform for us,” Debasish, a die-hard fan of Mike Tyson, said. The 18-year old who hails from upper Assam’s Tinsukia is also thankful of local lad Shiva Thapa who is also one of the medal contenders. “We are fond of Shiva da (elder brother). He often shares his thoughts and experience with us. Whenever he would visit us, he would give us tips about the game and diet among others. We are lucky to have a senior like him. He is very down-to-earth person,” Debasish said adding that he too soon want to don the India badge. So are Bibhuranjan Kalita and Irshad Ahmed who are undergoing training at the SAI working as volunteers at the event.