Shiva is a very hard-working boxer: Coach Mohammed Ali Qamar

Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI: Former international boxer and former national team coach Mohammed Ali Qamar feels that the future scenario of boxing is very bright in India. In an interaction with The Sentinel at the NFRSA Indoor Stadium, Maligaon Qamar, who is in the city in connection with the All India Railway Boxing meet, also admitted that boxers from Assam are really doing well in the international circuit. Here is the excerpt.

The Sentinel (TS): Your comment on the present scenario of boxing in India and its future...

Qamar: Overall, you can say it is very good, and I can say that the future is also very bright. Our Federation has taken a series of steps to provide quality facilities and training to our boxers. Support from the government is also coming regularly. You can say, we are now better equipped to achieve bigger glory. If you go through the performance of our boxers in different international meets you will see that our boxers are bringing laurels for the country by winning medals from every international meet, including the Olympics.

(TS): Lovlina, Shiva, Ankushita...will you agree that Assam is now a dominant factor in Indian boxing?

Qamar: Yes. Although I don't have enough idea about the infrastructures and coaching facilities available in Assam, when boxers like Lovlina, Shiva and others have come out from the State then it will definitely be good. I have noticed very good young boxers from Assam in the Indian camp also.

(TS): You witnessed Lovlina create history...

Qamar: Yes, I was with the Indian team in Tokyo when she gave us bronze medals from the Olympics. The girl fought very well in Tokyo. Recently she faced a lean period in her performance and there was a reason too as the boxer had to change her weight category. But it's a good sign that she overcame all odds and brought medals from the Asian Boxing Championship. Expecting some more brilliant performances from her in the coming international meets.

(TS): Stretching a career for a long period is difficult in Boxing. Shiva Thapa is exceptional...

Qamar: Shiva Thapa is a mature boxer. He is a very positive-minded athlete and can work very hard. It is the reason that the boxer is still able to hold his position in the Indian team.

(TS): Injury perhaps cut short your career...

Qamar: Yes. I was in good shape in the early part of my career and became the first Indian boxer to win a medal from the Commonwealth Games held in Manchester in 2002. But thereafter injury created a lot of trouble, and I wasn't able to perform as per my expectation.

(TS): Any goal that you had missed to achieve?

Qamar: I aimed to win a medal at the Olympics but it was not possible. However, there is no disappointment in my mind now because I achieved it through my boxers.

(TS): Present boxers are a little bit worried about the new scoring system...

Qamar: It will take a little time to adjust. Now the scoring pattern is changed and judges give scores each round individually on some particular scales like aggressiveness, punch, footwork etc of boxers during the fight.

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