His father died young and financial difficulties forced him to leave boxing and work as a school security guard; Years later, Sumit Kundu survived a career-threatening injury and will now go to the Asian Games | boxing news

Every era of sport produces a story that transcends the boundaries of a stadium. Sumit Kundu’s life is a masterclass in raw human resilience, a journey defined by devastating loss, sacrifices made at a young age and an incredible comeback against all odds.

The early tragedy and the great sacrifice.

Born in Dhakal village in Jind, Haryana, Sumit started boxing in 2013, drawn to the discipline and determination of the ring.However, hardships struck him early when he lost his father at a young age. To keep the family afloat, her mother began taking odd tailoring jobs, working endless hours just to provide basic meals.Watching his family struggle under immense financial pressure, Sumit made a heartbreaking decision: he hung up his boxing gloves in his teens and walked away from the sport.Accepting a job as a security guard at a local school, the promising athlete put aside his personal ambitions in order to bring home a steady income.

A town unites for a second chance

Sumit’s story could have easily ended at the gates of that school. But the village elders of Dhakal knew that his raw talent in the ring was too scarce to waste.Recognizing his potential, the town community supported him and pooled their personal funds to cover his essential diet and training expenses so he could quit his job and return to boxing.Returning his faith with absolute dominance, Sumit rose through the ranks. She clinched gold at the National School Games in 2018, dominated the 2019 Khelo India Games and shocked the national circuit by claiming the Senior National Championship title on her debut in 2021.The prize money from these early victories went directly toward his nutrition and equipment, fueling his rise to international competition.

Rise to international stardom

In 2022, Sumit has established himself as one of the most exciting prospects in Indian boxing.Representing the nation, he claimed a gold medal at the 2022 Thailand Open and pulled off a stunning upset at the prestigious Strandja Memorial tournament by defeating World Championship silver medalist Dzhambulat Bizhamov.Sumit went on to represent India at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and World Championships, earning a place as an Army Havildar thanks to his sporting achievements.

The nightmare that threatens his career

Just as his momentum peaked, disaster struck during the national championships during the Olympic qualifiers in Paris.Sumit suffered a serious torn anterior cruciate ligament and a torn meniscus in his knee, an injury so serious it sidelined him for almost two years and ruled him out of the Paris Olympics.After the surgery, he spent a grueling year and a half in rehabilitation in Mumbai. Naturally, doubts arose. “It occurred to me to leave boxing… After rehab, I didn’t feel the same energy in my knees. “I felt like my boxing career was over,” he later admitted.Kept afloat by the guidance of his childhood coach Ved Prakash, his family and his trainers, Sumit overcame physical and mental pain to rebuild his lower body strength from the ground up.

The unstoppable return

Sumit dropped to the 70kg weight category and returned to the national team trials for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.He put in a sensational performance, defeating World Cup gold medalist Hitesh Gulia in the semi-finals before beating Deepak in the final to seal his official spot.From guarding school gates to standing tall on the international stage, Sumit Kundu has proven that no blow of life is powerful enough to break a true champion.