Akhil Kumar, a gloves story

By Shamya Dasgupta
"A tiger doesn’t make a big hue and cry; he does what he needs to do quietly." That’s Akhil Kumar. Boxer and philosopher. As he gives you detailed descriptions of fights and why he won or lost, you should also expect couplets from Sufi saints or quotes from Swami Vivekananda.

Sometimes, like the tiger analogy here, they are Akhil’s own words of wisdom. So when you bring up the fact that, at 33-plus, he is quite the granddaddy to the boys he has just topped to qualify for the Asian Games (in Incheon, South Korea, later this year), Akhil says.

"Bhaisaab, if they lost to me, it means they are junior to me in age as well as ability." And, the usual, "Kya, maine kuchh galat kaha?" Until a year ago, Akhil was a 'former boxer', the Commonwealth Games gold from 2006 and the bronze from the 2007 Asian Championships his greatest moments.

At the 2008 Olympic Games then, Akhil was the one touted for a medal, in the 54kg class. But even as Vijender Singh hit paydirt and became a national icon, everything went pear shaped for Akhil in his quarterfinal match against Veaceslav Gojan of Moldova.

The surrender – 10-3 – was abject. Then, by 2012, injuries and a weight problem, plus a bit of frustration, had pushed Akhil away from the sport and to a regular job: Haryana Police, where he’s a Deputy Superintendent. A torn calf meant that he was not even thinking of a comeback.

The age limit for amateur boxers was 34, so Akhil could not hope to qualify for the 2016 Olympics or plot a last hurrah. But then, more recently, along with a change in the way the points are awarded, the age limit was revised to 40.

"That was one of the big reasons for me coming back," says Akhil, still in a celebratory mood after beating Rohit Tokas in the Asian Games qualifiers at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Patiala last month.

"And the Asian Games has a quota for qualification for the Olympics. So … A comeback needs to be thought through carefully. "I finished with my police training, and that helped because I stayed fit. Then my wife (Poonam Beniwal) pushed me. The coaches at NIS, Jaidev Bist and Amreek Singh, took charge of me. I have started cycling now, which I never did before, and I also didn’t enjoy running on the track – I do that now as well. All of that has helped," he explains, adding that the calf muscle has also stopped hurting.

Yet, this must feel like coming out of a cave after many years into a changed world. Most importantly, he is now a 60kg boxer – a category higher than where he was when he 'quit'.

"Yes, I have to adapt to everything, and I also need to be careful that I don’t injure myself again. But going up a weight category isn’t a problem," he argues. "In Athens (2004 Olympics), I was in the 51kg, and then I gradually moved up," he says.

"The main thing is the force and the desire. Who is young and who is old? If age is important, whoeveroses to me should quit, no? It’s rubbish. I am more mature now. Look at Sachin Tendulkar. Everyone wanted him to quit. But look at the youngsters who are playing in England. I think Tendulkar is still better than them."

That Akhil is better than other Indian 60kg alternatives is clear. And he remains as popular as he ever was – the people at NIS say that when Akhil beat Tokas, the hall pretty much came down because of the applause and cheering.

He is, after all, a bit of a hero. Especially to the youngsters. For years, Akhil has backed promising kids. "My objective is to spread knowledge. If someone trusts me and asks me for advice, I am all for him."

His big favourites now are Manpreet Jangra and Manish Pawar, both 69kg boxers in their early 20s. "The first thing I look for is the lack of fear in young boxers. Then drive. Ability comes later. It’s not like Iforce them to do things. They ask me, I help." Bluster comes naturally to Akhil, but he slows down when the topic of a future beyond Incheon comes up: what if the performance at the Asian Games isn’t top notch?

"I think I have enough boxing left in me. I might or I might not win a medal. Yes, people will talk about my age. If I win a medal, people will be quiet. But I have always fought my hardest even if I have lost. That’s what I will do. It’s not like the ones that don’t win are finished," he says.

"Everyone loves a winner – I know that. And it will be fun to prove people wrong."

Wisden India