Tags:
Journalism of Courage
When boxer Ibrahim Balla goes about his day in Melbourne,the bag that he carries with him everywhere he goes does not carry his boxing gloves alone,but chisels,valves,drain cleaners,and other plumbing gear. For the last six months his daily schedule has started to include visits to Melboune housing societies and corporate offices apart from the time he spends at training for boxing. Reason: The 20-year-old took up a plumbing apprentice with a local company. Though Balla claims to have been fascinated with water pipes from an early age,the choice this time round was not made out of desire but necessity. Boxing is neither popular nor lucrative in Australia and Balla was forced to take up the job to secure a living for himself.
Boxing is not so popular in Australia. Most people watch Aussie Rules Football and I needed to find a job in order to continue boxing. As a kid,I was always charmed by water pipes and all the other plumbing equipment; there was an opening at Duun Plumbing and I applied and got selected. It was tough initially but once my training schedule was finalised,we chalked out the work formalities, Balla told The Indian Express. The Albanian origin boxer is set to represent Australia in the Bantam-weight category (56 kg) at the Commonwealth Games.
After Ballas family migrated to Australia from his native Albania in the late 60s his father Nuri Balla started coaching boxing and went on to be a renowned coach in Melbourne. Though this made it easier for Balla to pick up boxing,the journey for the 10 year old was not an easy one. I started boxing at the age of ten at my fathers club but laws in Australia do not allow youngsters to box in any competition till they turn 12. But despite that deterrant Balla didnt lie low.
For those two years I watched my dad and uncle Mitat Balla working with youngsters and I started taking part in training sessions. Slowly I started understanding boxers psyche and that initial training has helped me maintain my calm till date, says Balla,who also works with his father at the Ballas Boxing Gym in Melbourne. Balla has now won four boxing titles in Australia. With brother Qamil Balla winning five,the brothers are the face of the Australian boxing teams. Though Qamil could not get selected for the 64 kg category for Commonwealth Games,father Nuri Balla will make sure that Balla sees a known face in the stands when he battles in the ring.
Balla has not only competed here before but also won a medal. The only opposition in Ballas glorious run at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games came from Englands Iain Weaver in the final,which meant that Balla lost the gold. Iain shocked Akhil Kumar in the Commonwealth Boxing Championships and my category is one of the toughest, Balla says. As for the plumbing apprenticeship,Balla will continue with the job as soon as he lands in Melbourne after the Games.
