24-year-old Minakshi sized up 2023 World Championship gold medallist Nitu Ghanghas for greater than a minute within the first spherical of the 48kg quarter-finals on the ongoing Girls’s Boxing Nationals in Better Noida. Minakshi had misplaced to Nitu twice earlier than – as soon as within the Commonwealth Video games trial in 2022 after which for the Asian Video games trials in 2023. This time although, issues can be totally different.
As Nitu began attacking, Minakshi adopted the plan set by her coach Vijay Hooda to counter her by shifting sideways after which touchdown her photographs. She moved away from Nitu’s punches and landed two clear jabs in return. The boxer from Rohtak caught to that technique and counter-attacked relentlessly to nullify Nitu’s cost within the subsequent rounds to clinch the bout and knock out the 48 kg World Champion, a shocking consequence for everybody on the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports activities Complicated in Better Noida.
“My gameplay is much like hers (Nitu) and we each counter-attack. The plan was to fend off her assault after which land my punches. I used to be a bit nervous as Nitu is a World Champion however sticking to the plan helped me,” mentioned Minakshi after the bout.
Minakshi and her coach Vijay had fastidiously devised the technique of counter attacking by sidestepping after she misplaced to Nitu on the 2 earlier events. “Minakshi’s earlier bout in opposition to Nitu was very intently fought and after the consequence didn’t go in our favour, we determined to give you this technique. I wished her to dominate the bout so there isn’t a room for a cut up resolution. She fully outplayed her right now and it has come after two years of onerous work,” Vijay Hooda advised The Indian Categorical.
It’s been an extended journey for the coach-student duo who’ve been coaching collectively for the previous 12 years. “I began coaching below Vijay sir after I was a child. He has been with me for the previous 12 years and takes care of every little thing together with my power, conditioning and vitamin,” mentioned Minakshi.
Humble beginnings
Hailing from Rurki village in Rohtak district of Haryana, Minakshi is the youngest of 4 siblings. Born to a father who drives an auto rickshaw, Minakshi’s curiosity in boxing was initially not acquired nicely by her household. “No one has performed any sport in my household. I used to be the primary one to select any sport. I used to see the children in my neighborhood boxing and the game me so much,” mentioned Minakshi. “It was not simple for me firstly. I come from a poor household and likewise everybody was hesitant a couple of lady taking over boxing.”
It was at this level when coach Vijay stepped in recognizing her potential.
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“Minakshi lives very near the stadium the place I train. After preliminary curiosity within the sport, she began coming to my academy however her household refused to ship her. I went to them and satisfied them that she (Minakshi) is a proficient lady. Ultimately, when she began successful on the youth degree, they have been satisfied. When she gained the youth nationwide medal and received a job on the All India Police companies, that’s when all people stopped doubting her future within the sport,” mentioned Vijay.
Vijay, who runs a boxing academy in Rurki with 70 boxers from the ages of 8 to 25 years, has been managing funds for Minakshi since her junior days. “Because the monetary situation of my household just isn’t good, Vijay sir gave me meals and garments, took care of my weight-reduction plan, and gave me cash to journey. Now, we’ve got a power and conditioning coach who was employed lately to work on my energy,” mentioned Minakshi.
Lengthy street forward
Regardless of taking part in on the nationwide circuit for the previous 5 years, Minakshi has hardly ever examined worldwide waters. She has featured in simply two main worldwide tournaments as a senior, successful a gold medal on the 2024 Elorda Cup and a silver medal on the 2022 Asian Boxing Championships. “I’m but to play massive tournaments on the worldwide degree. I used to play within the 52 kg class earlier however dropped to 48 as my pure weight was once round 49 kg at all times,” mentioned Minakshi.
Minakshi plans to proceed in the identical class with tournaments like Asian Video games and Commonwealth Video games developing subsequent 12 months. “Now we have our eyes set on the upcoming Commonwealth Video games as Minakshi has by no means performed a multi-sporting match. With this win in opposition to Nitu, she is extra assured now,” Vijay concluded. Minakshi will face Sanjana of Delhi within the semi-final of the Boxing Nationals on Wednesday.
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