Pakistan cheer for the Indian side in these military games

“The Pakistanis were so enthusiastic that they would come and ask us during breakfast about the day’s fights,” recalls Major BK Nayak, ASI physiologist who accompanied the boxers to Pretoria. “In the end, their spirit was remarkable… and the boys became good friends.”

Though Bhagyarajan eventually lost to Dutch H Kocabas in the finals, sport was the real winner. The over-all experience of victory has given him the confidence to bring back a medal in the Asian and Commonwealth games.

“Technically, we are just as good,” says Bhagyarajan. “But when you are about to fight Cuban, Russian, and Kazakh boxers, you feel psychologically intimidated. But now that we are successful, the confidence will go up,” he is sure.

Bhagyarajan was the only medal-winner for India among seven others from ASI at the South Africa event organised by the International Military Sports Council (CISM).

Twenty two-year-old Harikrishan Belwal, India’s national champion, also fought well in the flyweight (51 kg) category, winning a bout against Russian Olympic medallist R Megarramow before losing 16-20 to him. Som Bahadur Pun (64 kg), Narjeet Singh (54 kg), and Anthresh Lakra (57kg) also reached the quarters.

ASI boxers have been carefully trained and monitored in an environment that is as close to international standards as possible, complete with a sports-science cell consisting of a nutritionist, psychologist, traumatologist and bio-mechanics experts.

“Physically there is nothing Indians lack. Medals are well within our reach,” adds Nayak, who was with the boxers along with coach Narender Rana.

“We have international coaches who get in perspectives that are different, and tell the sportsmen what to expect in important fights. All we need is to stop feeling intimidated, it’s just a mental thing,” he says.

For Bhagyarajan, winning the silver in the championships considered by servicemen as military’s Olympics, is just the beginning. Looking back at last week’s performances in the ring, he says, “I want to go farther ahead, and I know I can.” The gleam in his eyes say it all. His target: The 2008 Olympics.