Bhiwani boxing legend Hawa Singh to come alive on silver screen

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, February 4

Bollywood is set to showcase the life of boxing legend Capt Hawa Singh of Bhiwani. Salman Khan has announced on Twitter that Sooraj Pancholi will play the protagonist in ‘Hawa Singh, a True Story’.

The two-time Asiad gold medallist and national champion for 11 consecutive years had put Bhiwani on the world map of boxing. His son Sanjay Singh, a boxing coach, said he was in Mumbai to train Pancholi for the movie. that would present the life and struggle of his father. Refusing to share contents, he said the movie was likely to be released in August.

“The SAI boxing centre started in 1986 with two players under the tutelage of Capt Singh. Over 1,000 players are now getting trained in Bhiwani,” recalled wrestling coach Bhupinder Singh. He started his boxing career at the same SAI centre under Capt Singh and later switched to wrestling.

“Over 6 feet tall, he was perfect world champion material. In his youth, he had the guts to challenge world champion Mohammad Ali, but never got the opportunity to face him. Had he got coaching and environment, he had the capability to rise to the level of world champion,” he said.

Boxing coach Jagdish Singh said Capt Singh brought him to the SAI in Bhiwani in 1996, a year before he superannuated. Jagdish later took the mantle from Capt Singh. He coached celebrated boxers Vijender Singh, Akhil Kumar, Jitender and Dinesh Singh.

Rajinder Singh, a local resident, recalled how Capt Singh used to train budding pugilists as he used to spot talented and physically fit youngsters who used to practise in the ground in the morning.

“He had a sharp eye for talent and used to single out boys for boxing training. I have seen him wielding a stick in hand and running behind trainees in the ground every morning. He was a tough taskmaster and strict disciplinarian,” he said. Capt Hawa Singh died of heart failure on August 14, 2000.

India’s pride

• Hawa Singh was born in Umarwas village of Bhiwani district on December 16, 1937 and got recruited in the Army at the age of 19
• He went on to become national heavyweight champion in 1961 and won the Asian Games gold medal in the category in 1966 and 1970
• He remained national champion for 11 years in a row and was given the Arjuna Award in 1966 and Dronacharya Award in 1999
• After retiring from the Army, Capt Singh joined the Sports Authority of India in 1986 and started coaching at Bhiwani’s Bhim Stadium