Jadumani Singh’s silver medal at Commonwealth Games brings golden glow to Manipur boxing
Manipur Boxing Celebrates After Jadumani Singh's Commonwealth Games Silver
Bharatmorningnews.com – Jadumani Singh's achievement of securing a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games has ignited joy throughout Manipur's boxing community. This accomplishment arrives at precisely the right moment for the state. Following Mary Kom's decision to retire from professional boxing, Manipur faced considerable difficulty identifying a successor to maintain its distinguished tradition.
Over recent years, the region experienced considerable social turbulence that pushed athletic pursuits aside. Organizing training sessions, conducting state-level tournaments, and assembling competitive squads for national championships all presented formidable obstacles. Against this backdrop of adversity, Jadumani's Glasgow performance represents an especially meaningful victory for local boxing enthusiasts.
A Legacy Rekindled
Manipur has consistently produced exceptional boxing talent for India. The state has nurtured celebrated figures including MC Mary Kom, Dingko Singh, Sarita Devi, and Suranjoy Singh. However, the most recent significant international accolade arrived during the 2018 Commonwealth Games held in Gold Coast, where Mary Kom captured gold in the light flyweight category. Notably, the previous Commonwealth Games cycle saw no athlete from Manipur selected for the national team in 2022.
Sarita Devi, who previously earned medals at both the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, now operates a boxing academy within Manipur. She contextualized Jadumani's achievement for local media. "This was much needed for Manipur boxing. There was a long gap after many of us won medals on the international stage. The young boxers here needed someone from the current lot to look up to and follow. The boxing fraternity of Manipur was waiting for this opportunity for the last eight years," Sarita told HT.
She further noted that success had diminished even domestically. "Medals had dried up even at the national level. Some boxers like Jadumani were doing well in the juniors, but their performance on the international stage was lacking. Jadumani has given them the belief," she added.
Welcome Home and Future Aspirations
Upon arriving in Imphal on Wednesday, Jadumani encountered a substantial gathering at the airport eager to honor his accomplishment. A formal reception subsequently celebrated his Glasgow triumph. The 55kg division silver medalist currently trains at the Army Sports Institute in Pune. He expressed concern regarding grassroots-level infrastructure. "Last year, I came home just for two weeks. I am so happy to return home with a medal from Glasgow and seeing the enthusiasm of the people here and the reception I have got makes me feel so proud."
He emphasized the economic challenges faced by local athletes. "The boxers in Manipur come from very poor backgrounds. I know the sacrifices I have made to reach so far. Young boxers still don't know much about how the sport works at the elite level. I was able to learn all this only when I moved to ASI. Facilities at the grassroots need to improve, focusing on scientific training and sports psychology," says Jadumani. "I am grateful to Sarita Di. She has always encouraged me and was available to advise me."
Building a Sustainable Future
Sarita advocates for boxing's inclusion in the SAI National Centre of Excellence program within Imphal. "We have met SAI officials regarding this. Earlier, the NCOE in Imphal used to offer boxing, and we benefited greatly. A high-performance centre, where elite boxers can get training and sports science support, is much needed in Manipur."
While NCOEs in Guwahati and Itanagar already feature boxing, Sarita highlighted that Manipur contains approximately 27 academies. She acknowledged Khelo India's financial contributions but noted ongoing expenses. "Providing them with a good diet is important, and it needs money. For domestic competitions, they have to buy plane tickets, which again cost a lot. We arrange for it," she says.
Suranjoy Singh, an international competitor turned national coach, observed that recent unrest disrupted training for athletes traveling from remote locations. "Those who are staying in the academies are able to train, but the training of boxers who come from far-flung areas often gets disrupted," says Suranjoy Singh.
He recommended increased competition opportunities. "There should be more competitions at the national and zonal levels, which can give them more opportunities. A high-performance NCOE facility for boxers would be of great help," he says.
Sarita reflected on the challenges of maintaining momentum over the past three years. "We have worked very hard to keep the sport going and provide training to youngsters. Jadumani's medal will be a fresh start for boxing in Manipur."
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