Whistling, cheering crowds liven up world boxing meet
Nov 24, 2006 - 1:41:06 AM
, Reviewed by: Priya Saxena
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One member of the Ukraine support staff, Tatiana Lebevesky, nearly dropped her movie camera out of sheer joy when her compatriot Olekksandra Kozlan defeated defending champion Mary Spencer of Canada in the 66 kg category semi-finals.
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By Indo Asian News Service,
[RxPG] New Delhi, Nov 23 - The Women's World Championships here brought a welcome change for Indian sports fans as they cheered the country's boxers, blew whistles and danced to the tunes of loud music.
Disappointed with a succession of defeats in cricket, Delhi fans got a much welcome breather as they saw several Indians, led by the redoubtable hat trick woman M.C. Mary Kom, win gold medals in the 13-nation competition that ended Thursday.
Although on most days the stands were sparsely filled, the noise generated was deafening at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium as India hosted its first-ever women's competition.
The tournament failed to attract a full crowd but the atmosphere was electric, what with loud music being played in the background.
Perhaps Mary Kom, who won a gold for the third successive time in the World Championships, summed up the picture the best.
'Playing in front of the home crowd is always very special but it puts a lot of pressure,' said the ecstatic Manipuri pugilist.
'I was a bit nervous at the start but when I heard chants of 'Come on India' I got pumped up and didn't give my opponent any chance,' she admitted.
Chants of 'Come on India, Come on' flew from all corners of the stadium whenever the Indians took to the ring. At most times, the slogans worked as they pepped up the local pugilists.
A sample of the fact that the sport is thriving in the northeastern part of India was seen here in the stands.
'We have come here to support Mary Kom and Sarita Devi and it is good to see they are doing us proud,' said Emanuel Joute, a Manipuri studying in the city.
He said he was present all the five days of the championships. Manipuri girls were seen cheering and waving the Indian flag.
'This sport is so exciting and it is pity that it doesn't get that much coverage,' said Vinita Khanna, a college student.
'I am witnessing a boxing tournament for the first time and now will make it a point to get tickets when such tournaments will be held here.'
The family members of the boxers were also shouting with their hearts out, as was evident from the enthusiastic parents of N. Usha. Her father especially went hysterical as he whistled like a teenager.
Even some of the reporters covering the tournament were seen on the edge of their seats as they shouted and applauded whenever an Indian pugilist scored a point.
The crowd was sporting enough to cheer the foreign boxers too, especially in the bouts that did not feature an Indian.
And support staff and the players of the foreign teams added to the din as they shouted loudly for their own boxers.
One member of the Ukraine support staff, Tatiana Lebevesky, nearly dropped her movie camera out of sheer joy when her compatriot Olekksandra Kozlan defeated defending champion Mary Spencer of Canada in the 66 kg category semi-finals.
'Cheering for the country is a different feeling and witnessing that the one you are cheering for emerge as the winner gives us a sense of satisfaction,' she said.
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