In this Saturday, April 14, 2014 file photo, Indian boxer
Manoj Kumar during the Commonwealth Games 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia. (PTI
Photo/Manvender Vashist Lav)
NEW DELHI — Former Commonwealth Games gold-winning boxer Manoj Kumar, who
dominated the light welterweight (64kg) division in India at his prime and did
not hesitate to voice his disagreements with national federation's policies,
announced his retirement on Thursday to begin a career in coaching.
The 39-year-old, who won his first and only CWG gold in
the 2010 Delhi Games, is also a two-time Asian Championships bronze-medallist.
His second and last CWG medal, a bronze, came in Gold Coast in 2018.
He is also a two-time Olympian, having competed in the
2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, finishing as a pre-quarterfinalist
in both editions after fighting performances that ultimately fell just short of
pushing him over the line.
"It's a carefully thought out decision because once
I turn 40, I can anyway not compete in amateur events as per international
rules. I am retiring as a content man after representing my country to the best
of my ability," Manoj, who hails from Kaithal in Haryana, told PTI.
"I have just gratitude for the opportunities I
got," he added.
The outspoken pugilist, who began his boxing career at
the junior level in 1997, completed his coaching diploma from the National
Institute of Sports, Patiala in 2021.
Injuries and a dispute with the national federation on
selection issues hampered his India career after the Gold Coast CWG and he was
not seen in any international event after that.
He now intends to devote time to the academy that he has
set up with elder brother and long-time personal coach Rajesh Kumar Rajound in
Kurukshetra.
"For any athlete, saying goodbye to the sport is an
extremely emotional moment. If it weren't for Rajesh sir, I wouldn't have been
recognised as an Olympian boxer. He made me dream big and cleared every
obstacle in my path to achieve them," he said reiterating his reverence
for the man who was, at times, his only support system.
"This academy will serve as a medium to share our
experiences and lessons with young athletes who will one day win medals for
India in the Olympics," he added.
Not among the most physically domineering boxers, Manoj
created a niche for himself with his workman-like approach to the sport which
meant wearing down his opponents in the ring with his deceptive defensive game.
He could frustrate rivals with his shell guards and at
the same time, surprise them with his very effective counter-attacks, which
relied heavily on accurately placed straight punches.
But despite a reasonably successful career, he could
never find a steady sponsor who could stand by him when injuries chipped away
at his fortunes.
Manoj was elected as the athletes' representative in the
Boxing Federation of India's executive committee in 2016 but had to quit over
disagreements with the body on its ever-changing selection policy, which
included doing away with the traditional practice of trials for a while.
"While in that commission, I raised my voice for
fellow boxers. And when you do that too frequently, there are consequences. But
I have never really cared. I still don't care," he said.
Manoj's many other battles included a court case to get
the Arjuna award in 2014 when the Kapil Dev-led selection panel ignored him
despite the fact that he fulfilled the laid-down criteria as per the points
system established for the honour.
He won that fight in the Delhi High Court and was
presented the award by the then sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal a few months
after the traditional ceremony.
He also fought a long and futile battle to get promotion
in the Railways, which had promised him the elevation after the 2010 CWG gold
but failed to fulfil it eventually.
He is the only Indian boxer aside from the iconic
Vijender Singh to have won two CWG medals.
Manoj belongs to the Ror community, which comprises
descendants of the Maratha soldiers who fought Afghan invaders during the
battle of Panipat in 1761. And throughout his career, he never missed a chance
to remind people of his heritage.
"For me, every bout is a now or never moment. I
can't hold back for later, what if the later never comes," he had told PTI
in an interview back in 2018.
On Thursday, it was time to hit the relax mode for him.
