10/22/2018 Who is Ankushita Boro?

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Who is Ankushita Boro?

Y.B. Sarangi
DECEMBER 02, 2017 16:38 IST
UPDATED: DECEMBER 02, 2017 16:43 IST

If any boxer from Assam has gathered the maximum attention after world championship
medallist Shiva Thapa, it has to be 17-year-old Ankushita Boro. A tribal girl hailing from the
nondescript Meghai Jarani village in Sonitpur district of upper Assam captured the
imagination of thousands of sportslovers in Guwahati, where she became one of the five
Indians to earn a gold medal in the world youth women boxing championship.
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10/22/2018 Who is Ankushita Boro? - The Hindu

Another Assamese girl, Minu Basumatary, had secured the same title in the same 64-kg weight
class in the inaugural edition of the event in Turkey in 2011. Ankushita left her Statemate
behind by miles in terms of the impact she created in front of her own people.

How did she get into boxing?

Ankushita’s love for boxing was a thing of surprise for many in her native place. Forget
women’s boxing; Meghai Jarani, situated 200 km away from Guwahati, did not have any
boxing culture whatsoever. However, when the 12-year-old found the gloves and the headgear
attractive, her family with a humble background never resisted despite belonging to a
conservative village.
It was a big decision for her father Rakesh Kumar, a primary school teacher on probation, who
does not get his salary regularly, and mother Ranjita, who works for an NGO.
They showed courage and helped Ankushita travel 165 km for the trials at the Sports Authority
of India (SAI) centre in Golaghat. After securing admission in the SAI centre, Ankushita made
rapid strides. She was lucky to get proper guidance from her coaches — Pranamika Bora at
Golaghat and Tridib Bora — at the State academy in Guwahati.

How did she fare?

A good show resulting in a bronze medal in the national youth championship earlier this year
gave Ankushita the key to unlock her future. She collected silver medals in exposure trips such
as the Ahmet Comert international tournament in Turkey and the Balkan youth international
tournament in Bulgaria to stake her claim for a spot in the national squad.

The skills of Ankushita, a naturally gifted boxer with nimble footwork, swift hands and rock-
solid determination, got polished under the watchful eyes of the expert from Italy, Raffael
Bergamasco, who taught her how to make subtle movements and gain maximum advantage in
the ring. Five months of training under Bergamasco made Ankushita a better boxer and
readied her for the bigger test ahead.

What happened at world event?

The competitive Ankushita had revenge on her mind even before she got into the ring at the
world youth championship. She beat Cagla Aluc of Turkey to avenge her defeat at the Ahmet
Comret tournament and then overcame a strong Rebecca Nicoli of Italy in another grudge
match despite being hit on her right eye.

In the final, the local favourite gave her best against Ekaterina Dynnik, though the Russian
was the toughest of all her rivals.

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10/22/2018 Who is Ankushita Boro? - The Hindu

What does it mean for women?

Ankushita’s next targets should be the world elite women’s championship in India next year
and the 2020 Olympics. Since her weight class does not feature in the Olympics, Ankushita
may go up a notch to 69 kg to seek qualification for the Tokyo Games.

Nevertheless, Assam’s newest boxing sensation will surely spur younger girls, including those
from her own district, to take up the gorgeous sport.
With the increase in medals share for women’s boxing in the Olympics owing to the
International Olympic Committee’s stress on gender equality, Ankushita’s feat may act as the
trigger point for India at a time when the legendary M.C. Mary Kom era is entering its last
phase.

Printable version | Oct 22, 2018 12:00:31 AM |

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