Except hockey, other sports including boxing are neglected in Odisha: Dronacharya awardee Braja Bhusan Mohanty

With the Indian women boxers having a dream run at the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championship, Odisha’s Dronacharya awardee and one of the top national-level boxing coaches Braja Bhusan Mohanty is on cloud nine.

Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain added the fourth gold medal to India’s tally at the IBA Women's World Boxing Championship 2023 on Saturday.

As per Mohanty, modern technology like the ‘bout review system’ has emerged as a game changer for Indian boxers.

“Earlier, Boxing was largely a subjective game. To err is human and referees’ errors were often affecting the final outcome. However, with the emergence of modern technology like ‘bout review system’ the errors are getting minimised. Moreover, the technology has suited the Indian boxers a lot,” said Mohanty.

“Had the technology not been adopted, many Indian women boxers would have lost from the semifinal stages at the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championship,” said Mohanty.

The Dronacharya award winning coach feels that the new technology has not helped the women boxers only. It will also keep the male boxers in good stead in some upcoming mega competitions including Olympics.

However, the eminent Odia boxing coach rues that boxing is getting neglected in the State.

“Only hockey is overemphasised and getting too much support in Odisha. Other sports including boxing are getting neglected in the State,” said Mohanty.

“We have many promising and emerging boxers in Keonjhar, Berhampur and Puri districts. However, they are not getting the right kind of facilities and exposure due to lackadaisical approach and attitude of the State government towards boxing. With proper training and facilities in place, Odisha boxers have also the potential to flourish,” added Mohanty who is currently imparting training to some emerging boxers in Jharkhand.

“I am a Dronacharya awardee boxing coach from Odisha. I always cherish a dream to train and prepare international famed boxers in Odisha. I have also given a plan and proposal regarding this to the State government some six-seven years back. But nothing materialised,” rued Mohanty.