E-Paper
Sumit Kundu dazzles in Strandja international boxing opener
The middleweight boxer, only 19, upstaged his superior Russian opponent tactically in the first round of the tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria
Sumit Kundu stunned world championships silver medallist Dzhambulat Bizhamov to make a rousing start at the Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament in Sofia on Monday.
Kundu, 19, did well to move inside the tall Russian’s range and unleashed a flurry of punches, not allowing Bizhamov to open his long arms in the 75kg bout. By the third round, Bizhamov was a spent force and Kundu won 5-0.
The teenager has a bigger fight in the second round, against Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Oleksandr Khyzhniak of Ukraine.
This is only Kundu’s second senior international tournament but he is already making waves in the middleweight category, having won the senior nationals last year.
He also impressed at the World Championships in November, reaching the pre-quarterfinals, where he lost to eventual gold medallist Yoenlis Hernandez of Cuba. Despite that defeat, Kundu’s powerful punches and attacking style grabbed eyeballs. He has resumed displaying similar flair at Strandja.
“That’s how he always fights. He is strong and powerful. The moment he catches his opponent in corners, he scores furiously. He has scored many knockouts in domestic competitions,” says his coach Ved Prakash Badanpur from Narwana, where Kundu trains.
Early life in his village Dhakal was tough for Kundu, who lost his father while he was very young. His mother looked after the family by doing odd tailoring jobs. The financial struggles forced him to consider leaving the ring.
“He started boxing in 2013. He was strong and dedicated. He would even train alone. In between his family was going through a very tough phase and he took up a guard’s job in a school. He had decided to leave boxing. Then some elders from the village got together and told him they would provide all the financial help but he should not leave boxing,” said Prakash.
The hard times did not last long. His mother’s work picked up and he could focus fully on boxing. The youngster won gold at the National School Games in 2018 and in Khelo India Games in 2019. He became a junior national champion as well in 2018 in Mohali, where he was adjudged the best boxer. The prize money from these events helped him spend more on diet and training.
“He has seen some tough days but his mother told him long ago that “you should not think of anything else but playing for India”,” his coach said.
In India, the middleweight category is synonymous with Beijing Olympics bronze medallist Vijender Singh. After him, no Indian has done consistently well in the division. Ashish Chaudhary won silver at the Asian Championships and qualified for Tokyo. Now, Kundu is showing the spark.
