Boxing in Bhiwani on the decline

Deepender Deswal

A few years ago, Bhiwani town became popular as ‘little Cuba’, ‘Mecca of boxing’, ‘Citadel of boxers’ as a number of local pugilists put India in the league of ‘boxing superpowers’.

However, except Vikash Krishan, who won a bronze medal, there was no other boxer from Bhiwani to represent India in the Asian Games that concluded in Jakarta, Indonesia, recently. The lone gold medal in boxing was won by Rohtak lad Amit Panghal.

An interaction with boxing lovers and coaches reveals that Vikash was the only player from Bhiwani to win a medal in the Asian Games. “It is surprising but it’s true. This is the worst performance by Bhiwani boxers in any international event in a decade,” says a young player while practising in a training academy in the town.

Olympian Akhil Kumar, a DSP in Haryana Police, says that, “I am really surprised. I missed Bhiwani boxers in the Asian Games. There must be some tricky issues facing Bhiwani boxing. The authorities should locate the problem areas and fix them”. The town has a tradition which provides positive vibes and motivation to boxers, he adds.   

Jagdish Singh, who has groomed many Olympian pugilists, is blunt in pointing out the problem. “Bias in selections is the reason. Vikash was the only member in the Indian boxing team from Bhiwani who bagged a bronze medal in the Asian Games. The authorities did not select any other boxer from Bhiwani. Commonwealth Games silver medallist Manoj Kaushik was not given a chance while bronze medallist Naman Tanwar was dropped,” he says. Jagdish adds that the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) power centre has shifted from Haryana to Maharashtra, which makes a difference.  

Manoj Berwal, brother of Vijender Singh, says that boxing is on the decline in Bhiwani in the absence of infrastructure and promotion of the sport. “Bhiwani has achieved a level in boxing and the government needs to support the players properly. But there are no camps, no foreign coaches and other infrastructure facilities in the town,” he says.

Bhupinder Singh, SAI coach, says that this may be a low point for Bhiwani. “I feel pugilists will prove themselves again. Over 2,500 players practise in the town every day. We have talent and we will prove it again soon”. 

Olympics bronze medallist Vijender Singh, Akhil Kumar, Jitender Singh, Dinesh Kumar, Vikash Krishan and Raj Kumar Sangwan had emerged from Bhiwani in the past decade. Two-time Asian Games gold medallist Hawa Singh (1966 and 1970) had been credited with setting up the tradition of boxing in Bhiwani, which was carried forward by coach Jagdish Singh.