State boxers win 5 medals at Uttarakhand National Games
State boxers returned from the ongoing National Games in Uttarakhand with an impressive haul of five medals. The players won two silver and three bronze medals. In the women’s category, Vinakshi won silver, while Menka and Ekta secured bronze medals. In the men’s section, Ashish Negi won silver while Chetan Chaudhary won bronze.
“With a slightly better luck, we could have won a gold medal as well. Nevertheless, our boxers put on a good show, the best ever for the state,” said SK Shandil, secretary, Himachal Pradesh Boxing Association.
Expressing satisfaction over the performance, Shandil said the boxers from the state could do even better if the Sports Department provided them better infrastructure and coaching facilities. “All these winners practice outside in Haryana and Punjab. While a few have been indicted into Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence, others train elsewhere, spending money from their pocket,” said Shandil. “There are just two regular boxing coaches in the entire state and a few have been hired under the Khelo India programme. It’s not enough,” he added.
He said boxing would get a big boost in the state if the government lends a helping hand. “To begin with, we should have at least one boxing coach in each district to spot and train talent at the grassroots level,” he said. The government should set up at least two sports hostels, one for boys and the other for girls. “In these hostels, select boxers from the districts should be trained. These should be run like centres of excellence, having all the required facilities such as good coaches, physiotherapist, nutritionist, sports medicine doctor, etc,” said Shandil.
