Minakshi’s boxing dream comes true at Khelo India
NEW DELHI: My father calls me his son. He has never treated me differently to my brothers. Back in my village, that is a big thing. MINAKSHI, Boxing medallist
Haryana’s Minakshi backed by the entire Rurkee village and its sarpanch to take wings, has emerged as a boxer of quality. She rewarded them with a fine victory over her friend and international medallist Arshi Khanum (Rajasthan) to secure the 50kg class medal at the Khelo India School Games here.
Even for someone who was adjudged ‘Best Boxer’ at the 2017 National Sub-Junior Championships, beating an international medallist was special. The feeling got deeper since the bout was a repeat of the 50kg final at the Junior Nationals.
“Before this bout, Arshi had said that she would easily win because she is now an international medallist. I proved her wrong,” Minakshi said of the girl who had won bronze in the Nation’s Cup tournament for junior and youth women in Serbia in January. “We train together at camps and she is a friend, but overconfidence is not good.”
Minakshi was unable to participate in the tournament as she was born in 2001 but she has set her hopes higher. “I don’t want to say I want to win an Olympic medal. We have to take one step at a time. My goal is to do well in the Asian Youth Championships in April and World Youth Championships in August,” she says.
“I took up boxing to become independent. Only when I do that can I think about winning a medal. Right now, I want to focus on being the best I can. The rest will follow,” says Minakshi, who idolises Vijender Singh.
She credits the village sarpanch Kuldeep Hooda for introducing boxing to the village and claims that girls in Rurkee are encouraged to take up the sport. Youngest of four siblings, Minakshi carries the weight of expectations of her family and village. Her brothers and sisters work to contribute to the family’s income.
“My father calls me his son. He has never treated me differently to my brothers or discriminated against me. Back in my village, that is a big thing.”