Click to play videoBhatinda: Its unusual for the national event of any sport to get too much attention but that seems to be changing. The boxing nationals that ended in Bhatinda on Friday even got Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt excited.
On the final day of competition, cheergirls added to the sport's rapidly growing glamour quotient along with Dutt, who is the new brand ambassador of Indian boxing.
“I only want to say that now I am a brand ambassador of boxing and I promise you that in the next Olympics we will win gold and not bronze,” Dutt promised.
The presence of the real heroes of the ring added to the occasion. Beijing Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Kumar didn't participate at the nationals but he was around; as were Akhil Kumar and Jitender Kumar.
Their presence along with Dutt's clearly was an inspiration for budding boxers.
"We will benefit as people will come to see Sanjay Dutt and it will popularise boxing," a young hoped.
But despite the hype all isn't well as lack of funds remains a problem. The nationals were organised only with financial aid from local business houses and the government.
Facilities, too, remain inadequate but the boxers are keeping their chin up.
"Sanjay Dutt's association with bring in glamour to boxing. We will get sponsorship and new generation will be encouraged to take up boxing," another boxer said.
Hopes have been raised after the good performance at Beijing Games and it is clear that there is no dearth of talent.
Now Indian boxing needs a determined push to scale even greater heights.
(With inputs from Amit Chaudhary)
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