Jharkhand?s boxing family

The Lakra family of Birsanagar can easily be credited with bringing about a ?boxing revolution? in Jharkhand. It has produced five international and national-level pugilists so far, reports Animesh Bisoee.

The Lakra family of Birsanagar can easily be credited with bringing about a ‘boxing revolution’ in Jharkhand. It has produced five international and national-level pugilists so far and the latest to carry forward the proud heritage is the newly-crowned ‘best boxer’ at the just concluded 22nd Sub-junior National Championship, Mishal Lakra.

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Mishal, 16, who idolises his cousin Anthras Lakra, a Commonwealth gold medallist, did not have to look too far for coaching. “Since childhood, I saw my father Oscar (a former national medallist and once adjudged the best boxer of Bihar) and uncles Vijay and Ernest win laurels. I won a gold at the sub-junior (Bhilai 2004) and now proved my mettle here,” said Mishal, a student of ABM College.

He gave special credit to his eldest uncle and international coach Ernest. “He was instrumental in sending me to the Tata Steel coaching centre. In the initial years, he carried me on his bike to the training centre. He has now taken my younger brother, Malcolm, under his wings and is determined to keep the legacy going,” said Mishal, who clinched gold in the A-8 category.

Incidentally, Ernest is not a full-time coach and is also employed with Tata Steel. He has been the force behind five pugilists from the area making it to the sub-junior nationals this year. Of them, Govind Solanki won silver and Prashant Kujur bronze while Mishal won gold.