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Picture Essay
t he s un day gua rdia n 20: s up p lement to t he s unday guardi an | 27. 04. 2014 | new delhi
th e s un day gua r d ia n 2 0 : s uppl e m e nt to t he s unday g ua r d i a n | 2 7 . 0 4 . 2 0 1 4 | ne w d e l hi
Picture Essay 31
FIGHTING SPIRIT Photos & Text: Sharbendu De In 2012, when women’s boxing finally entered the Olympics in London, MC Mary Kom won a bronze medal for India, serving as a shot in the arm for many young girls in India. Most of these boxers come from underprivileged backgrounds and have to put up a daily fight against multiple-odds to sustain their passion for boxing. Over a decade ago, nine-year-old Nabanita Chakraborty from Assam was introduced to boxing by her doting father. Her coach Sam Daniel, is a former athlete and self-styled boxing coach with a reputation for performing miracles (with amateur boxers), and winning medals for Assam. “I dream of playing like Mary Kom didi, and winning a medal for my country,” says Chakraborty. 27-year-old Jenifer Daniel — sprightly, quick-witted — is coach Daniel’s daughter, and an accomplished boxer, with stacks of medals and shields that speak for her. “When Laila Ali’s matches were telecast late at night,” Jenifer recalls, “my father would pour water on my face to wake me up and force me to watch.” By now, Jenifer has won over 20 regional, state and national level championships, and attended over 10 national camps, but petty politics over regional identity has reined her growth. Her Tamilian Christian origins come in the way, Jenifer alleges.“Since Daniel, my father’s surname, is attached with my name, I’m not given preference over other Assamese boxers, despite the fact that I’ve lived here all my life,” she laments. At the Ananda Mela Boxing Club, a neighbourhood club in Howrah, West Bengal, coach Sanjib Banerjee promotes the sport as a discipline to his pupils. “It’s more than just winning medals,” says Banerjee. “Boxing trains adolescent minds to control their anger and channelise it in a constructive manner”. Within two years of training, 15-year-old Chaitali Kapat has already won five state and national level championships. “I always liked fighting. I’ve got a lot of anger inside,” she confides. “This anger reminds me of my father,” she says. “Every time I step into the ring, I think of him.”
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