I am still a ticket collector, says pugilist Manoj Kumar

“When a child is born, the first word he or she usually utters is maa (mother). In the same way, the primary dream of every boxer is the Olympics.”

And Manoj Kumar has taken his first step towards achieving his dream. The Haryana boxer qualified for the London Olympics after reaching the quarterfinals at the World Boxing Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan.

He may have lost in the last-eight stage to Englishman Thomas Stalker but that has not dampened his spirits. “I was a little tired after my pre-quarters bout. My body wasn’t in a good condition. I will get the better of him the next time!” Hailing from a small village called Rajound, Manoj has always been a surprise package in every event he has taken part. From winning the bronze medal in the 2007 Asian Championships to bagging the gold at last year’s Commonwealth Games, this small town boxer has come a long way.

“My life changed after the CWG, so it means a lot to me. I came into the limelight because of that and it has done wonders to my confidence. Like cricketers, we boxers also get some importance now.”

The 24-year-old also said that people often called him a dark horse. “My brother says, Hamaare paas paane ke liye sab kuch hai, khone ke liye kuch nahin (we have everything to gain, nothing to lose). And till date I approach every bout with this thought in mind.”

On qualifying for the Olympics, he said, “It just feels amazing to have actually qualified. Vijender Singh’s bronze medal in Beijing was a morale booster to all of us. A lot of people have worked hard behind the scenes. From our coaches, Gurbax Singh Sandhu, BI Fernandez and other Railways coach, to the Olympic Gold Quest, they all have a big hand in our success.”

The light welterweight (64kg) boxer also said he was keen to be a part of World Series of Boxing. “I will definitely take part in the WSB after the Olympics. As of now, my weight category is not there — they have only 61kg and 73kg. If I go and play in the 73kg, then my Olympic preparations will get affected.”

He added that he wasn’t too keen to jump weight categories like Vikas Krishan. “First, let me achieve something in my category. ” 
Currently nursing a hand injury, Manoj said, “In boxing, one injury goes and the other comes. We have to kill the pain and keep playing. If not, someone else will walk away with the title.”

Also, a ticket collector with the Indian Railways, Manoj said he hoped the railway minister takes notice of sportspersons other than cricketers. “Cricketers do well at the Ranji level and they get promoted. And here I am, still a ticket collector even after winning gold amongst 72 nations.

“Personally, I am aiming for the gold, the rest is on Him. My confidence level is sky high. I have a strong will to succeed and I don’t leave behind any weak points,” he concluded.