Manoj Kumar rings in hope with big scalp

RIO DE JANEIRO: To think of it, it’s just the first round. But given that we don’t seem to have too much else to celebrate these games, even a first round win against a credible opponent is a straw worth clutching on to. Manoj Kumar beat London bronze medalist Evaldas Petrauskas (in 60kg) of Lithuania by a 2-1 split decision in their 64kg welterweight bout to bring some cheer to the gloom that surrounds Indian boxing.

The win deserves cheering for the pathetic state of boxing in India now that there is only an ad-hoc committee managing it instead of a full fledged federation. The Indian boxing federation is in the dock and suspended by the international body for the last four years on account of suspect elections. That, in turn, has meant that there has been no concrete training programme or support for Indian pugilists since the London Games.

Manoj Kumar was one of the last-minute inclusions in the government’s much touted Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).

The efficacy of that project is falling flat in Rio but as far as Manoj is concerned even that last gasp effort was great and he says it really aided him in this victory. He and Shiva Thapa had trained in Sheffield (UK) just before the Games and that exposure added finesse to his craft. “Sheffield was really good for us. We at least got a lot of bouts against many boxers. The exposure helped my match-sharpness,” Kumar said later.