Coach of Arjuna Awardee Boxer Manoj Kumar, Rajesh Kumar Rajound shares the story behind how Manoj Kumar became king of the ring.
When I was young I used to take him to ground with me and he helps me to tie the punching bag by sitting on my shoulder, after that as I start my practice for some time he use to see me and after that he goes and start running with athletes.
One day after coming back home from practice I see him imitating boxing punches randomly while playing and I also use to correct his mistakes.
Once, some of the naughty boys of stadium to get Manoj beaten made him to fight with a boxer weighing 10kg more than him who also is a state medalist, but still Manoj not only beat him in fight but also get his nose bleeding by continuously punching.
When I came to know about this incident I asked him whether he wants to do boxing and he immediately gave affirmative answer. From that day onwards our relation changed from brothers to that of teacher and student. From the day I started teaching him boxing, I use to motivate him not to be a state or national champion but to be Olympic champion at that time Leander Paes, bronze medalist of 1996 Atlanta Olympics and taking his photo from newspaper I says to him that I want to see you to that podium and will help you in each and every manner.
Next step towards fulfilling the dream is need of a practice partner for Manoj for which I chose another younger brother of mine, Mukesh Kumar who, at that time was only judo player to be awarded with best judo player of Haryana. Also he was the champion in his weight category at that time. I knew that for him there could be no better partner than Mukesh because only Tiger can give a fight to Tiger and no one else but to change the game of both I have to face criticism from the coaches.
I never looked back again to take Manoj and Mukesh to their position and then worked hard day and night to get both to the height and never got a chance to think about myself again and with my determined confidence and discipline, I decided to make him a champion and then there is no Sunday for us, no holiday, no celebration, just if there was anything, then he was just on his way to passion.
I have told and taught Manoj about Chanakya, Napoleon, Shivaji Maharaj and Bhagat Singh since childhood, I always inspired him by telling a story that gave positive energy and strengthened Manoj’s faith so much that he started saying that I want to fulfil your dream and will do it.
No matter how many problems I have faced in my life, but I never let Manoj have any problem then Manoj never told me that I can, he always said that I will.
The faith of these words of Manoj also inspired me, which has become my greatest strength, and then I did not let Manoj and Mukesh’s hopes to move forward and their faith waver and always told them that.
“Remove every fear from your heart, Views will be new again to your eyes, Stars will fill you with stars, This world will see your emerging skills”
Manoj’s game life has been full of struggles, even after winning the gold medal in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi he was not sent to the Asian Games held after the Commonwealth Games, but Manoj did not give up and reached the quarter-finals of the 2011 World Championship and was first to qualify for the London Olympics and lost a disputed match in the London Olympics from a local boxer in the pre-quarterfinals.
The very next year he won Bronze medal in 2013 Asian Championship buts still when it comes to Arjuna Award he has to wait for four years as selection committee headed by Kapil Dev ignored Manoj despite him having 32 points and selected players with 20 points to be honored with award.
After which I have to file writ petition before Delhi High court and within three days decision came in favour of Manoj Kumar and he is honored with award by Sports Ministry.
We belong to a very ordinary family, due to which we have no political god father, which is why Manoj never got the honor in the Haryana government, which he deserves, many more people with less achievements than Manoj were appointed as DSPs but not Manoj.
After 2014, Manoj has no sponsorship and yet Manoj continued his game without any financial support and qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics, besides Manoj from India at Rio Olympics, two players Shiva Thapa And Vikas Yadav had also qualified for the Olympics, apart from this, no big name was able to qualify for the Olympics, that is why I say that the stage Manoj is at today.
He is hard working and on his own and has been the only boxer in India to have played boxer for 22 consecutive years, who has been playing boxing for so long and Manoj is also the first boxer in the country to win two gold medals in the Commonwealth Games.
Along with that, I also made Mukesh an international boxer and Mukesh has won many medals for the country at the international level as well, beside my family, there are four more national level boxers who are progressing in the boxing game after Manoj Mukesh.
I have always spoken the same thing to Manoj.
“Break all records, leave the rest to me”.