After having lost out on the bronze medal in the ’88 Seoul Olympics, Manoj Pingale has one dream: to see a fellow Maharashtrian win a medal for boxing
Manoj Pingale with his proteges at the Multifit center. Pic/Vaishali Galim
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If you are as big a fan of the Rocky series as you tell everyone you are, you might remember that in the last installment, the retired Sylvester Stallone trains his former rival Apollo Creed’s son to turn pro boxer. Well, turns out, something similar has been happening in your backyard too, or rather, in Pune.
Arjuna awardee Manoj Pingale (48), the only Maharashtrian boxer to represent the country at the Olympics, but who missed out on the bronze medal by a point in the’88 Seoul Olympics, says, “I want to see a boxer from Maharashtra win that medal I missed out on.” To that end, over the last eight years, he has been training underprivileged children and prepping a select few that can represent India in the upcoming 2020 Olympics and finally bring home that medal.
Meet the proteges
Brothers Kuldeep Singh Kushwah (17) and Pratap Singh Kushwah (21), along with Ashutosh Khomne (17), Vishal Naidu (20), and Ajay Pawar (21), are Pingale’s chosen five, who have been training with him for the last six years. “How did I know they were special? I noticed them while they sparred during practice. They have an education, sure, but it is through boxing that they realise there is another career prospective for them.”
While the earlier training sessions used to be held at an open gymkhana in Pune, things changed for the better when Pingale became a trainer at MultiFit six months ago, and received the sound support of the gym’s proprietor.
A failing system
“The biggest reason behind me failing in the Olympics was lack of exposure,” says Pingale. “If you enter the ring only once in six months, the pressure to perform gets to one’s head. Boxing is a mind game, after all.” According to him, there isn’t a single training centre in the state that is adequately equipped to train boxers.
Private individuals step up
To fill that vacuum, private individuals have stepped up. Case in point, CMD of MultiFit, Samir Kapoor, who, apart from helping out Pingale and his five, is also motivating kids with cash prizes upto Rs 1.2 lakh up for grabs at the upcoming National matches. While this means there is a high chance of Pingale’s five competing against each other, but irrespective of the outcome, their ultimate goal will continue being eyeing that medal.
Family says
“Studying is not the only way for a child to have a safe and secure future. We, as a family, have always encouraged our son to take part in sports, and it is a proud feeling to see him excel in the field of boxing. It is our dream that he will represent India in the Olympics, and bring home a medal,” said Devendra Naidu, father of Vishal Naidu.
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