Women Boxers In India: With This Ring
<cite>With This Ring</cite> is an independent documentary film by Ameesha Joshi and Anna Sarkissian. Since 2006, they’ve been tracking the Indian Women’s National Boxing Team, who are some of the best boxers in the world.
Written by
anna
November 6, 2012
Back to reality today, with the amazing, determined, soft-spoken Sarita Devi. Pick a weight, any weight, and she’ll fight in it and probably win.
This 2006 world champion in 52 kg made a daring move this year, putting on 22 lbs of muscle in 2-3 months and then winning gold at the Asian Championships in 60 kg. No surprise there, she’s been Asian champ 5 (FIVE!) times in a row.
Because of the complex qualification system, she didn’t get an Olympic berth despite beating the world #2 boxer at the trials (a big upset!). We have no doubt that Sarita, arguably the fittest boxer on the Indian team, will be back.
Related: Meeting Sarita’s family in 2008 and Photos: visiting Sarita and Thoiba in Manipur
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Written by
anna
November 5, 2012
Former Miss World Priyanka Chopra and FHM India’s “Sexiest Woman in the World” Katrina Kaif are both reportedly being considered for the role of Mary Kom in the upcoming big budget Bollywood biopic. A natural fit for both, we think. Cough.
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Written by
anna
November 5, 2012
The five-time world champion and Olympic medalist might be going by “Dr.” from now on.
Mangalayatan University in Uttar Pradesh awarded Mary Kom and five other Olympic medalists honourary doctorates for their achievements at the London Games on Saturday, proving once again how much value is placed on Olympic medals in India.
(Image by Mary Kom)
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Written by
anna
October 22, 2012
Pooja Rani from the Indian state of Haryana started boxing in 2009 in secret.
Only her mom knew: “If I got injured during training, I would stay over with my coach and his family, and my mom told my dad that I was staying with some friend or the other to study,” she told journalist Radruneil Sengupta. Once her dad found out, he was furious but her coach convinced him to let her continue, by saying, “I will treat her like my own daughter.”
She still calls her coach and his wife ‘mom’ and ‘dad.’ Three years later, Pooja won silver at the Asian Championships in 75 kg.
At the Olympic trials in China last May, she faced American boxer Claressa Shields in her opening fight. Yes, that Claressa Shields. Pooja was naturally disappointed by her loss, but at that point Shields was an unknown quantity at the international level so the Indian team didn’t realize they’d just been beaten by a 17-year-old wonderkid from Flint, Michigan, who might just be “the next Muhammad Ali” (in Ameesha’s words).
We already knew Claressa. Earlier, we had watched her take down boxing stars left, right,and centre at the 2012 Women’s Continental Championships in Cornwall, Ontario. She beat 2010 world champ Roseli Feitosa of Brazil 29-11. She beat three-time world champ Mary Spencer of Canada 27-14. Then at the Olympic trials, she beat Pooja 27-10.
Claressa is a tough opponent and Pooja definitely held her own, on par with some of the world’s best. With a few more years of experience, who knows what could happen.
Support this promising athlete by liking Facebook page.
(Images by of Pooja Rani and Examiner)
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Written by
anna
October 9, 2012
We filmed Mary Kom as she prepared for the London Olympics in a film outside her home, in Imphal, Manipur. Back then, there were no other cameras around…
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Written by
anna
October 3, 2012
As Mary Kom’s coach Charles Atkinson told us, India has an “incredible pool of talent.” Pinki Jangra is yet another boxer to emerge.
She is one of the few on the team to have actually beaten Mary Kom at the 10th senior national women’s boxing championship in 2009, which is no small feat. She’s been selected as Best Boxer at several Indian competitions and won silver at the 2012 Asian Championships.
Pinki is lucky to have the support of her family, whom we were fortunate to meet during a trip to Hisar, Haryana in 2008. Her brothers, Amit and Ashwani, actively promote their sister and have become big supporters of our film as well (thanks guys!). We also interviewed Pinki with her mother to gain more insight into their lives.
Many of the boxers have short hair to simplify their lives; they can focus on training two to three times per day, not on maintaining their appearance. Chopping off your ponytail also makes it easier to wear the required head protection. Pinki told us that people in town would come up to her, and ask, “Are you a boy or a girl?” just to antagonize her. With their “boy cuts” and track pants, many people didn’t necessarily approve of their appearance.
Though the snide remarks were frustrating, Pinki kept at it. She’s now fighting in 51 kg and hopes to compete at Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014.
Keep your eye on Pinki, and get regular updates, via her Facebook page: “YOUR support and cheer always encourage me to do good in Ring. Please continue this and I’ll keep winning medals for INDIA.”
(Photo courtesy of Pinki Jangra)
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Written by
anna
September 21, 2012
Have you heard of Kavita Chahal yet? She’s a real sweetheart who has been quietly winning medals at world championships for the last few years. Find out more about this two-time world bronze medalist via her new Facebook page: Kavita chahal Boxer. Yet another unknown champion on the Indian women’s team!
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Written by
anna
September 19, 2012
“HAIL MARY - Champ. Olympian. Icon.” That says it all. India Today’s Woman magazine puts the boxing star on the cover of its September issue. A big budget Bollywood movie about her life is in the works, but what’s this about a Danny Boyle documentary?! Full story
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Written by
anna
August 23, 2012
The last month has been a blur but the reality is starting to sink in. ($19,172!!! what an amazing feeling.) The money was not raised by two of us, or even three of us. A team of family/friends, supporters and even strangers carried us throughout the last 30 days and they are really responsible for this success. Not sure how we can ever properly thank them and all of you.
Thank you for making this such a memorable experience. It’s time to start editing…
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Written by
anna
August 23, 2012
WE MADE IT! It’s been 12 hours since the campaign ended and we are overjoyed to announce that we have surpassed our goal and have raised $19,172!!! (PLUS cash and cheque contributions).
The last month has been a blur but the reality is starting to sink in. And it’s an amazing feeling. The money was not raised by two of us, or even three of us. A team of family/friends, supporters and even strangers carried us throughout the last 30 days and they are really responsible for this success. Not sure how we can ever properly thank them and all of you.
Thank you all for making this such a memorable experience. It’s time to start editing…
– With love and appreciation from Team With This Ring (Anna, Ameesha, Emily, Tamara, and friends!)
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