Amandeep gives up hockey for boxing

It was an easy day in the ring on Saturday for boxer Amandeep Singh as he won his first bout 7-0 in the light-flyweight category, against Manoj Kumar of Tripura in the 57th Senior Men's National Boxing Championship at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium, reports Shalabh Manocha.

It was an easy day in the ring on Saturday for boxer Amandeep Singh as he won his first bout 7-0 in the light-flyweight category, against Manoj Kumar of Tripura in the 57th Senior Men's National Boxing Championship at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium.

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But taking up the sport, which still needs followers in the country, was not easy for the Commonwealth Championship gold-medallist. “I won easily against Manoj, but it would have been better had there been some more people other than those participating in the event,” said Amandeep about the empty seats in the stadium.

One of the favourites in the ongoing tournament, who also represents India in the Commonwealth Championship, the 24-year-old feels that the sport needs promotion.

On how he took up the sport, Amandeep said that he initially wanted to be a hockey player but the condition of the sport in the country discouraged him.

“I played for my school but knew it wouldn't be easy making a living out of it (hockey). So, I left the stick and picked up the gloves,” added Amandeep. Not that it has been easy being a boxer. “My mother was worried initially when I took to boxing, but after I won my first state-level competition around 10 years ago, things fell in place," said the boy from Sangrur. About his chances of representing India in the Commonwealth Games, the SAF Games gold-medallist feels it would depend on how he fares in the trials.

Results (Light flyweight): Baljinder (HP) bt Bikas (Asm) 5-4; Vipin Kumar (UP) bt Kripa Shankar (MP) 7-3; S. Ramu (AP) bt Vikas (Chd) 4-0.