Boxer Parveen Hooda had had a breakthrough season, profitable a bronze medal on the World Championships after which following it up with a gold on the Asian Championships. The teen is now geared as much as compete on the Nationwide Championships in Bhopal in a brand new class (66kg) with an eye fixed on the Paris Olympics.
The continued Nationals are a chance for boxers to shift to Olympic weights (50kg, 54kg, 57kg 60kg, 66kg, 75kg) as subsequent yr would be the begin of the qualification cycle for the Paris Olympics.
Parveen, 22, is excessive on confidence after her exhibiting on the Asian meet in Jordan the place she cruised by her bouts to win gold.
“I went into the Asian Championships with a recreation plan for each opponent. I’m now dealing with them repeatedly and I’m extra assured. I’m extra of a counter-attacking boxer however in Jordan, I went with an attacking mindset and remained aggressive,” stated Parveen.
With India internet hosting world championships in March and the Asian Video games — which may even double up as Olympics qualifier — scheduled subsequent yr, Parveen stated it was time for her to maneuver to an Olympic weight class. Her nationwide title final yr in gentle welterweight (63kg) was adopted by medals in two main worldwide occasions in the identical weight class.
“I can not combat in a lighter weight as a result of I’m tall and its will get troublesome to keep up weight. I really feel weak. So, it is higher so as to add just a few kgs and combat in 66kg. The nationwide championships will likely be a brand new begin for me,” stated Parveen, whose primary rival on the Nationals will likely be Ankushita Boro who received bronze on the Asian Championships lately.
‘Endurance is essential’
Wanting again at her season, Parveen stated she is completely satisfied to have lastly made her mark. For somebody who got here to the nationwide camp in 2017 as a gifted youth boxer, it has taken a while to search out her ft.
“The success has come after a variety of struggles. I had been very affected person. On the youth stage, I at all times was the second-choice boxer so I by no means received that form of worldwide publicity. On the 2018 youth nationals, I couldn’t compete as a result of my weight exceeded by 400gms. I cried quite a bit and stopped coaching however my coach (Sudhir Hooda) inspired me and introduced me again.”
“I knew I had the standard. I used to be beating one of the best in coaching. Coach sir advised me that you simply by no means know, you might get a greater alternative within the senior stage, so simply stick round and wait on your second,” she says.
That second got here when she defeated seasoned Laishram Sarita Devi within the nationwide trials in 2019 and was instantly observed. She was on the crew for the South Asian Video games, President’s Cup, Cologne Cup and India Open. “I performed 5 tournaments in 2019, received 5 medals and it was the turning level. It was my first yr on the elite stage and since then I’ve not appeared again. I learnt that it’s essential be targeted and never surrender, even when issues won’t go your method.”
It isn’t solely within the ring the place Parveen’s combating spirit helped her change her state of affairs but in addition at residence. Rising up in Haryana’s Rurki village, she felt the monetary crunch and boxing was a approach to get a job to assist her household.
“I get my motivation from my mom and my coach who supported my boxing. My coach took care of every little thing, despite the fact that the monetary situation at residence was not good. I simply wished to get a job and assist my household,” stated Parveen whose father is a farmer. “The game has helped me in each side. Now I’ve a sponsor and I additionally assist my household financially. Issues are higher now.”