Brain and brawn helps boxers soar
India’s boxing team was in news for the wrong reasons before the start of the Commonwealth Games. Because of the needle controversy, all of them were looked at with suspicion and were reportedly tested for doping. But in focussing on the negative aspect of the controversy, what has gone unnoticed is the progress the Indian boxers have made in recent times and which may result in them claiming a rich haul at Gold Coast.
The sport, which was till a few years back considered in India as matter related to brawn, has undergone a sea change in India with the appointment of foreign experts and the Indian boxers have adapted well to not only their technics but also to new approaches that they have brought in – video analysis and sports science.
This marriage of brain and brawn seems be paying rich dividends as a number of them have made it to the quarterfinals and on the verge of getting into medal contention. India are virtually assured of six medals as of now with five male and one female boxers making it to the semis.
Former world champion and Olympic bronze medallist MCMary Kom made the last four in women’s 45-48 kg while Amit Phangal, Hussamuddin Mohammed, Manoj Kumar, Satish Kumar and Naman Tanwar reached the semifinals. On Tuesday, Amit outscored Aqeel Ahmed of Scotland in the 46-49 kg while Naman, boxing with an open stance, used his advantage in height and reach to great effect to swat away the challenge of Frank Masoe of Samoa in their quarterfinal bout. In men’s 56kg quarters, Hussamuddin defeated Zambia’s Everisto Mulenga.
“The approach to boxing has undergone a total change. It is no longer only strength, they have to use their mind, technology and sports science. The boxers too have taken to this approach,” said a team official who didn’t want to be quoted as he is not authorised to speak to the media.
But he did give an insight into the approach.Earlier, it would be difficult to make a boxer understand his mistakes because the language gap between them and the foreign experts. Now they can watch their bouts on video, in slow motion, and understand where they are going wrong.
The approach has gone into pre-match preparations too. The pugilists in national camp have their own whatsapp group and the night before their match, they are given a video of their previous matches and of their opponents.
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