Had adverse circumstances not forced him off the football field, Indians might have known this Manipuri lad more for his dribbling than for his powerful punches. But destiny had something else in store for Suranjoy Singh. Although he was a good footballer, the lack of opportunities in the world’s most popular game back home brought him into the boxing ring, and that changed his life forever.
Inspired by Mike Tyson and encouraged by his elder brother (himself a good boxer who had to give up the sport because of injuries), Suranjoy put on the boxing gloves despite his parents’ resistance. It was only after he reached the sub-junior nationals in 2000 that he told them about his foray into the sport. From then on, his family started taking his boxing seriously and supported him further.
A brother’s support
“It wasn’t as if things were easy for me once I switched to this sport. Convincing my parents was the first obstacle I faced. Once I managed that, things became easier. I was lucky to have an understanding brother by my side to support me in every way. He provided for all my needs and I never faced any constraints after that,” said the 25-year-old son of a farmer, who always wanted to excel in sport.
“I grew up watching my brother, M Suranjit Singh, who was a good boxer but had to give up boxing because of injuries he suffered in an accident. Although I was initially interested in football, my brother’s boxing had always inspired me to be in and around the ring. And once I started boxing, there was no looking back. I started enjoying the sport, and after I did well at the national championships, things started becoming easier for me,” said the boxer popularly known as ‘Chhota Tyson’ for his electrifying punches and aggressive style.
The Navy and a run of medals
Getting a job with the Indian Navy was a turning point in his career, as it brought an end to his days of struggle. “The secure job offered by the Indian Navy right after I won gold at the 2002 National Games in Hyderabad was a great relief. It not only secured me financially but was also a morale booster, and my performance improved after that. I won a bronze at the Junior World Championships in 2004 and my winning spree continued. I won seven straight international gold medals between 2009 and 2010 before finishing with a bronze at the 2010 Asian Games,” recalled the boxer, who puts a lot of stress on the role of fitness and consistency in a sportsperson’s life.
Not one to chase awards and honours, the flyweight (52kg) boxer believes in simply doing his karma. “I just want to give my best and earn honour for my country, and I know the rewards will follow,” said the champion, who will receive the Arjuna Award from the President on National Sports Day later this month.
“Yes, it is a matter of pride, but it wasn’t a big surprise for me, because I just perform and the awards follow. Such an honour has increased people’s expectations of me and I will try to live up to them,” said the boxer, for whom success has come at a price.
Boxing for his mother
During the 2010 Commonwealth Games, while he was facing opponents in the ring, his mother fell ill for the first time. “I could not spend much time with my mother because of back-to-back tournaments. She was battling cancer and was critical when I left for the Asian Games in November. I even considered giving it a miss, but my mother motivated me to go ahead. I settled for a bronze at the Asian Games but lost my mother in the same month. Her loss was immense and it took me aback. But I took it as a source of motivation and resumed training after a few weeks, wanting to earn glory in the ring for my mother’s love. She always wanted me to be a successful boxer. I will keep giving my best, and even though she isn’t here with me any more, I want to live her dream by working hard. I dedicate my Arjuna Award to my late mother (Tampaklei Singh),” said the emotional son, who recently returned from the fifth World Military Games in Brazil, where he won a bronze.
Now training in Patiala, he said: “The World Military Games gave me great exposure and I have identified the areas where I am lacking. I’m focusing on my footwork and punches so that I perform better in the trials for the World Championships, to be held in mid-August.” The 2011 World Championships, to be held in September, will be the first round of qualifiers for the 2012 London Olympics.
The Olympic goal
Having skipped the 2011 Asian Championships because of a heavy schedule, Suranjoy is aiming for a quota place at the London Olympics in the coming tournaments. “It was my decision to stay back, work on my weaknesses and come back with stronger punches and a flawless performance in the upcoming championship. I’m training well, without a day off even on Sundays. I hope to make it through the Olympic qualifiers. It was my mother’s dream that I represent the country at the Olympics,” he added.
Happy with the present status of boxing in India, Suranjoy hopes Indian boxers will qualify for the Olympics in different weight categories and bring home medals to add to the country’s prestige. “The response boxing has received in the past few years is great. Apart from the government and the authorities, the support it has received from a few NGOs such as Olympic Gold Quest has been instrumental,” he added.
Major achievements
- Bronze medal, World Military Games, 2011
- Bronze medal, Asian Games, Guangzhou, 2010
- Gold medal, Commonwealth Games, Delhi, 2010
- Gold medal, 5th Commonwealth Boxing Championships, New Delhi, 2010
- Gold medal, Intercontinental President’s Cup, Baku, Azerbaijan, 2009
- Gold medal, Asian Championships, Zhuhai, China, 2009
- Gold medal, AK Mishra Senior Men’s Boxing Championship, Chandigarh, India, 2009
- Gold medal, European Grand Prix, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic, 2009
- Bronze medal, Junior World Championships, Korea, 2004
By Akshi Aggarwal
Indian Sports News
