The struggle is far more important than the medals, says Sumit Sangwan

Sumit Sangwan is arguably one of the biggest underachievers in Indian boxing and he does not shy away from revealing the tough times he has faced over the last four years which have troubled him through injury and bad luck. Sangwan remembers how he had negative thoughts of leaving the sport with which he has been associated with since 2003.

“Maybe it was bad luck or maybe God just wanted me to struggle more,” Sangwan said to Scroll.in in an interview after winning the gold medal (by walkover) in the 91kg category at the Senior Nationals.

“I did not get my blood checked when I first fell ill. I would get a fever in the evening and when they checked it later, it was typhoid. I had to take part in those trials. But I had no power left. I was broken.”

Sangwan believes he has proved his worth even through injuries, which he did once more on Thursday when he finished top of the podium at the senior national championships at Baddi University. He bagged his first gold medal in the tournament in four years and the first in the new category after jumping from 81 kg.

The success of his previous category was hard to find in the new category as Sangwan was challenged by youngsters at home and even internationally. He revealed that he had a certain height advantage fighting in the 81kg category which is not the case in 91kg. It is difficult to adjust to the heavyweight category. He realised that at the Asian Championships in 2017 where he was weighing only 86 kg, he trusted his speed to box in the tournament and earn a silver medal to get back into national recognition.

“I fought all bouts with speed. I defeated a Chinese boxer in semi-final only because of speed,” he said. “When I was getting hit, I felt my whole body shake. Now my body and mind have adjusted. I’ve understood that I have to go closer and take the hard-hitting punches.”

“Medal is motivation, fame, and money. I decided to quit but 10 days later I watched a bout and then I thought that the struggle is far more important. That is my lifestyle. I will keep working harder. I am targeting the Olympics but I cannot be thinking so far. It’s best to wake up in the morning and go to the ground, check your weaknesses, run and listen to the coach’s abuse. This is happiness and this is what I like. Kabhi khoon nikalta hai, kabhi haddi tutti hai but yahi maza hai [sometimes you bleed, sometimes bones break but isn’t that the fun of it all],” he signed off.