Fighters set to overcome challenges at Susegado Strike Fight Night
THE GOAN NETWORK
Panaji
India's boxing scene is quietly evolving, shaped by stories of resilience and ambition and the rise of professional sports promoters. From Goa’s gyms to Haryana’s boxing rings, young fighters like Pralhad Panda and Raj Sahiba are battling personal odds and societal barriers, by tapping pugilism's transformative power in a nation where cricket still reigns supreme. The boxers will be stepping into the ring at Susegado Strike’s Fight Night Goa’s first professional boxing extravaganza.
Pralhad dreams big about boxing, but he’s aware of the uphill climb and promoter-driven events like the Susegado Strike Fight Night, which is scheduled to feature him and 11 other professional boxers at Dona Paula on Friday (December 6) including two women pugilists, help boxers like him put themselves on the centrestage.
“I am hoping Susegado Strike Fight Night will do the best it can for boxing in Goa. There are a lot of boxers participating from all around the country. There is a lot of motivation to be drawn from fighting boxers from across the country,” he says.
Kailas Gauns, 30, from Chimbel, a 'Fight Night Friday' participant, overcame dropping out of school to rise as a state-level boxing champion, battling challenges far beyond the ring.
“My long-term goal is to compete internationally and test myself against the best fighters from around the world. I want to experience different styles of boxing and see how I measure up on the global stage. In the short term, I aim to continue improving my skills, win at the national level, and gain the experience necessary to achieve my ultimate goal of fighting internationally,” says Kailas, who idolises Mike Tyson.
Raj Sahiba, 22, from Haryana’s boxing hub Bhiwani, was inspired by Mary Kom from the age of 12. She trained with her father’s support, winning six national titles and two “Best Boxer” awards.
But for Raj, it’s more than medals. “Mary Kom taught me that it’s not just about winning; it’s about how sharp your mind is in the ring. Injuries will come, but a champion’s mindset stays,” she says. Sahiba even had the privilege of learning from her idol during a tournament in Poland, where Kom dissected her bouts with precision.
In Indore, Muskan Shrivastava’s parents, a javelin-throwing mother and a cricket-loving father, struck a deal with her: if she scored 80 percent in school, she could box.
Determined, she made it happen. Today, the 25-year-old juggles part-time teaching with three gruelling training sessions a day. “I’ve played ten professional bouts “ won four, lost six,” she says bluntly. She may have been defeated in some matches, but her resolve is unbreakable, because for Muskan, it’s not just about victory; it’s about learning, adapting, and eventually, representing India internationally.
For female boxers like Sahiba and Shrivastava, who are also participating in the Susegado Strike Fight Night, their worn gloves also serve as shields against societal expectations. “Every woman should learn self-defence,” Shrivastava says. “If your parents don’t allow you to step out, learn on the terrace. The internet has everything.”
