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Deepender Deswal
Tribune News Service
Hisar, May 24
When teenaged pugilists Sakshi, Savita and Sonia, were declared the world champions and runner-up in their respective weight categories, they not only overcame their opponents inside the ring, they managed to upset a bigger adversary back home.
When they left for their maiden international event – AIBA Women World Junior Boxing Championships in Taipei — nobody expected them to return with any medal. “To be frank, I have not expected them to achieve this big feat when they left for the tour. It was their first international event so I just asked them to box their natural way and don’t take any pressure. But still they proved to be the best in the world”, said Jagdish Singh, coach at the Bhiwani Boxing Club (BBC).
Sakshi and Savita won gold medals in the 54-kg and 50-kg categories, while Sonia bagged silver in the 48-kg category. “I am elated at their success, as these girls are fighting so many odds. They belong to poor families but still they decided leave their villages and join the club in Bhiwani to learn boxing,” he said.
“Both Savita and Sonia belong to Gothada village in the Dadri subdivision and are students of Class 10. Their parents are small farmers. The pugilists are part of a group of 12 girls coming from different villages who are living in a rented accommodation near the club. These girls bear all expenses and each girl share a cost of about Rs 1000 per month on house rent and other related expenses. While their families supply them the quota of flour and vegetables from their homes, these girls prepare food and do all other chores on their own”, Singh said. Sakshi belongs to Dhanana village and his father ferry her to the club daily on a motorcycle.
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