Nineteen year old Deva Naik has a dream. A dream which seemsimpossible, considering that he is not born with the proverbial silver spoon.But he is determined to fight. To fight the unbeatable foe. Literally. For Devais a boxer. And a gold medallist too.
Goans love their football but it also does sport a richboxing heritage. Lenny d’Gama, a former boxer with the Services, now aninternational referee, is one name that crops up immediately where Goan boxingis deliberated upon. More recently we had Siona Fernandes from Siolim makingheadlines when she competed in the London Olympics as a squad member of the NewZealand team.
Infact it is this heritage that drives youth like Deva totake to boxing as a career. “My dream is to join the Army, where my fullpotential will be utilised,” he said after a rigorous training session at theCampal Indoor Stadium.
Deva comes fromhumble beginnings. Every morning he is in the Panjim fish market assisting hisfather. Here, he doesn’t pad up his boxing gloves, rather, ordinary handgloves, as they both slice up kingfish and chonak (sea perch), slices which endup on the afternoon meal plates at restaurants in the city.
Come 4pm and he is at the Campal stadium, ready for histraining session under coach Pravin Shirodkar. Is Deva a stray case of success?No. Junior Asian championship gold medallist Santosh Harijan also comes fromnot so elite background and is today with the Forces, thanks to his boxingskills.
“We have boxers from all walks of life. Boxing has a hugepotential in Goa,” reveals Clyde Lobo, secretary Goa Amateur BoxingAssociation, the nodal state organisation affiliated to India BoxingFederation.
“We had over 120 entries for the sub-juniors selectionsrecently. And we had to have selection bouts to shortlist participants,” hesaid. “For the 3-day annual state championship to be held next month, we expectto have over 260 boxers participating in various categories,” he added whilestating that they have seven coaches apart from a female coach to train boxersin the state.
That’s good, but not good enough. “I could have achievedmore, but cannot, because we do not have sufficient tournaments,” Deva said.”Weparticipate in just two events the whole year round, the state championship andthe West Zone event. There is hardly anyone to spar with,” he continued urgingthat upcoming boxers be given more exposure to the sport.
Another problem that plagues boxers is inadequate kitallowance besides the need for more rings. “The SAG (Sports Authority of Goa)has promised to increase the allowance from the Rs 1000 we now get for eachboxer,” Clyde disclosed. “Also we have been promised a new boxing ring, at theindoor stadium, after the Lusofonia games,” he added.
If SAG is serious about promoting boxing, and adding to thelaurels Goa already has won in the sport, then its time it honoured itscommitment and help Goan boxers box their way to glory.
