Rohtak’s pugilists Amit, Manju bring laurels
Sunit Dhawan
Tribune News Service
Rohtak, July 7
The inspiring stories of ordinary village children Amit Panghal and Manju Rani, who are the new shining stars on the international sports horizon, underline the old adage that where there is will, there is a way.
While Amit Panghal of Mayna village in Rohtak district has been ranked World No. 1 in the 52-kg weight category by the International Boxing Association (AIBA), Manju Rani of Rihtal village in the same district has got the World No.2 rank in the 48-kg category. Sanjit of Ritoli village has got World No.12 rank in the 91-kg category.
Amit, son of Vijender Singh, a small-time farmer, has already ensured his berth in the upcoming Olympics, slated to be held in Tokyo, Japan. He is an Asian Games gold-medalist and recently created history by becoming the first-ever Indian boxer to have won a silver medal at the AIBA World Boxing Championship.
Manju Rani, who brought laurels to the country by winning the silver medal in the World Women’s Boxing Championship in Russia last year, belongs to Rithal village.
Her father Bhim Sen Sharma died of cancer in 2010, when Manju was 11 years old. Her mother Ishwanti opened a cosmetics shop at her home to support her family.
“I had no gloves, no shoes and no ring. I used to practice with a punching bag hung from a tree near a pond in my village. I am indebted to my father’s friend, basic coach and mentor Sahab Singh Narwal, who adopted me after my father’s demise,” said Manju, who now eyes an Olympic gold.
