Services created history in the senior national women's boxing championship on 26th December, on Monday in Bhopal. For the first time in 88 years of participation in the senior national boxing championship, two prominent female boxers who joined the Services (Army team) this year are returning with two precious medals. Sakshi Chaudhury won the gold medal while Arundhati Chaudhury acquired the silver medal. Significantly, Sakshi has also won the 'best boxer' award in the championship. 

The Unsung Hero

The man behind the history is Chhote Lal Yadav, one of the country's renowned coaches, especially one who is always adored for his outstanding contribution to legendary boxer Mary Kom since Chhote Lal joined as the boxer's coach in 2015. 

It was the initiative of this 35-year-old boxing coach to convince Services top brass to convince and two promising female boxers joined Army this year. 

Chhote Lal was ecstatic after his two students won medals and he has not stopped here. He already has made a request to the higher authority to recruit more promising girls in all other categories so that we can build up a women's team and field in the next year's women's senior national championship. Chhote Lal speaking over the phone from Bhopal commented, "Services did not have a women's team. This is the first time they appointed Sakshi and Arundhati. I am thankful to my office bosses who have agreed to appoint more promising female boxers, numbers can be around 24 before the senior national women's championship next year." 

Mary's Motivation

Legendary boxer Mary Kom has also inspired Sakshi and Arundhauti to join the army under the guidance of Chhote Lal. Both of them were champions in Youth World Cup and they were training under Chhote Lal's guidance for the last seven years at Army Institute in Pune. The two-star AIBA coach added, "Mary has inspired these two female boxers a lot asking them to join Army (Services) under my guidance. Both these two were very promising already but their key aim is to bring international medals consistently at the senior level. I hope their ambition will be fulfilled."