Jamuna Boro sets her sights on Worlds gold

Beware of Assam's 22-year-old female boxer Jamuna Boro. She may come across as a simple girl next door but with the boxing gloves in her, she is dangerous.

Her WhatsApp status defines her aptly. "I… Talk. I… Smile. I… Laugh. Too… But… Be.. Careful.. When I'm.. Silent..."

She lets her boxing gloves do the talking when she is silent.

It is her boxing gloves that is making all the right noises in the last two international tournaments she has participated in, winning gold in the 54kg category at the India Open in her home state capital Guwahati in May and another yellow metal in the same weight category at the 23rd President's Cup in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, that ended on Sunday.

No sooner had she arrived from Indonesia on Monday night than she went straight to the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi for the national camp ahead of the selection trials for the September 7-15 World Championships in Yekaterinburg, Russia.

Speaking to DNA on Tuesday, Jamuna has set her sights on bagging gold at the World Championships first and then realise her dream of winning at the 2020 Olympics.

For someone who had interest in wushu but was later roped in for boxing at an early age, Jamuna has not looked back.

"For us, Olympics is the biggest stage. I want to win a medal there. Having won India Open gold, and another gold in Indonesia, I want to now win yellow metal at the World Championships. I am happy with my performances so far and will try for more. But first and foremost, get selected for the Worlds as the selection trials are coming up," Jamuna said.

It may have looked like a cakewalk for Jamuna in Indonesia last week, breezing past her opponents 5-0 in the semifinals (Kase Serlin Alin Liliwati of Indonesia in semifinals) and final (Giulia Lamagna of Italy).

But Jamuna does not think so. "President's Cup was a good competition. All the fighers were good. The final was very tough. Italian boxers are generally very hard. I don't know how I won 5-0. Giulia was attacking and I had to just stay afloat. It feels very good when we all girls won gold," Jamuna said.

The extra fillip came when the legendary boxer, six-time world campion Mary Kom came to her and said that she had to win gold.

"Mary Kom didi came and said that I have to win. I had to beat the Italian. I tried hard and won," Jamuna said as a matter-of-fact.

Addressing Mary Kom as 'didi', Jamuna considers her as her idol. She is in awe of the legendary boxer from Manipur. "Didi teaches us youngsters a lot. I follow her style of boxing, how she plays, how she punches. She has worked hard. If she has worked hard and achieved so much in the sport, why can't we? Her lifestyle, the way she talks, she is very friendly and does not show attitude. She does not say no to anyone. She corrects mistakes of anyone who approaches her," said Jamuna.

Initially, Jamuna's entry to boxing was not her own. She had her interests in wushu. "I did not know about boxing. I was training at Sports Hostel in Sonitpur, Assam, and was taken for selections. I did not know for what selections they were taking me. I knew wushu, it is about punching. I could punch well. Later, after getting selected for boxing, I gradually got in to the groove. In Guwahati, I came to know about Mary Kom, Shiva Thapa among others. That's when I knew more about boxing and got interested. I also felt good in boxing. Now, it is my favourite," she said.

Woman boxers reign supreme now-a-days in the international arena, thanks to Mary Kom and her inspirational successes. Jamuna said that performing consistently is also bringing more and more girls into boxing.

"Woman boxes are coming forward. It was not the case previously. Performances are good. Coaches are giving us good training and thereby we are able to perform better in international competitions. It is good for India that boxers are winning medals and are coming forward."

Asked if it was a necessity for Indian boxers to go overseas for training and improving their game, Jamuna was pleased with the training facilities in India.

"Pactice here is good. If you think it is good here, it is good. If you think you have to go abroad and train, that is also good. But, it is not necessary that we have to go and practice abroad. It is good to fight new boxers and there are a lot to learn from them. But, practice in India is equally good. That's why we are able to give good performances. If you put your mind and focus, it is good here," she said.

Know Jamuna Boro

• Date of birth: May 7, 1997
• Place of birth: Sonitpur, Assam
• Boxing debut: 2013
• Style: Orthodox

Major achievements:

• 2019 (July): Gold, President's Cup, Indonesia
• 2019 (May): Gold, India Open, Guwahati
• 2018: Silver, 56th Belgrade Winner Memorial, Serbia
• 2015: Bronze, World Youth Boxing Championship, Taipei
• 2013: Gold, 2nd Nations Cup International Sub-Junior Girls Tournament, Serbia