Their coach Leishangthem Ibomcha who has produced as many as 38 international boxers, flanked by his student and one time champion Ng Dingko, who brought in the boxing wave after he won a gold medal in the 13th Asian Games 11 years ago was among the crowd which gathered at Tulihal airport in Imphal to greet his students. Parents, guardians and near and dear ones of the two pugilists also stormed the airport to receive them.

The Sports Authority of India, North East Regional Centre at Khuman Lampak Sports complex organised the first reception function for the Asian Champion Suranjoy on the day of his arrival. This was followed by the state sports authority formally honouring the duo along with Nandarani another bronze medalist in a grand felicitation ceremony. Many local clubs and organisations also organised similar felicitation functions for the two winning stars at various places in the state.

Manipur’s Youth affairs and Sports Minister Nongthonbam Biren, Manitron chairman and MLA Dr Kh Ratankumar of Mayang Imphal AC and other sports officials attended the ceremony wherein the former announced the decision to provide necessary incentives from the government side for the talented medalists.

State Governor Gurbachan Jagat also helped the boxers by presenting Rs 30,000 to Suranjoy and Rs 20,000 to Nanao while MLA Kh Ratankumar being the local MLA awarded a cash prize of Rs 50,000 to Suranjoy in order to help him meet his financial burden while participating the world championship in Italy in September.

Reacting to the public reception, boxer Suranjoy said, “I’m so happy for the warm reception. Please pray for success in the coming championships” while Nanao who settled for a silver medal this time is confident of winning gold in the upcoming championships. “I believe I will win gold next time,” Nanao told this reporter at a reception function.

Both Suranjoy and Nanao played football for their respective village clubs before they started fighting in the ring despite initial objection from the families on the grounds that boxing is not an easy event. However Suranjoy’s elder brother Suranjit - a former international boxer himself - motivated him to take up boxing in 1999 after a frustrating wait to make it to national level football.

But Nanao quit football to join a newly formed local boxing club in his Bishnupur district and started practicing under Coach Chingkheilemba (1998 to 2000) to win the first ever gold medal at the Chennai National Championships in 2001.

Nanao’s father, 60 year old Thokchom Totobi, reacting to his recent performance said that he hopes that the next time his son will win gold for the country. Nanao is also confident of winning gold in upcoming competitions. This was supported by Suranjoy’s 65 year old father M Inakhunba. “He should win next time” he said. At one point of time, Inakhunba, a cultivator by profession had objected to Suranjoy’s willingness to fight in the ring like his brother Suranjit who serves in the Assam Rifles. Both Suranjoy and Nanao will go for intensive training at Patiala camp soon for the forthcoming World Boxing Championships in Italy in September this year.

Sobhapati Samom