<div>A Junior World Boxing Champion in the 54 kg weight category, 16-year-old Sakshi looks up to Vijendra Singh as her ideal. What she dreams of becoming is a sportsperson like him who doesn’t need an introduction.<br /><br />“I belong to a village, Dhanana, which is around 20 kms from Bhiwani. Every day, my father takes me for practice to Bhiwani. He dreams to see me famous,” Sakshi tells Metrolife. <br /><br />“I always liked fighting in the mud. And, when my parents encouraged me to pursue a sport, I chose boxing,” she says referring to the many families in Haryana who encourage girls to take up sports, particularly boxing and wrestling. <br /><br />Training under coach Jagdish from Rohtak <br />Academy, Sakshi currently practises for three hours each in the early mornings and late evenings, besides preparing for her class 12th exams next year.<br /><br />“Once I complete my class 12th, I want to win as many medals as possible for India. India is no less than any other country, and it’s a matter of time before we start winning big,” she says.<br /><br />Winning a silver medal at her first state level championship, Sakshi went on to win a gold medal at Junior World Women Boxing Championship, Taipei, Taiwan, 2015 and won the bronze medal in 5th Nation’s Cup, Serbia, this year.<br /><br />Sakshi along with five others are financially supported by Asbah, a rice brand. “Often in our country, dreams and talent of young and deserving girls wither away for lack of proper financial support and encouragement. I really do not want to give up on my dream,” says the boxer. And she says, “A gold medal at the Olympics is a dream that I have.” <br /><br /></div>
<div>A Junior World Boxing Champion in the 54 kg weight category, 16-year-old Sakshi looks up to Vijendra Singh as her ideal. What she dreams of becoming is a sportsperson like him who doesn’t need an introduction.<br /><br />“I belong to a village, Dhanana, which is around 20 kms from Bhiwani. Every day, my father takes me for practice to Bhiwani. He dreams to see me famous,” Sakshi tells Metrolife. <br /><br />“I always liked fighting in the mud. And, when my parents encouraged me to pursue a sport, I chose boxing,” she says referring to the many families in Haryana who encourage girls to take up sports, particularly boxing and wrestling. <br /><br />Training under coach Jagdish from Rohtak <br />Academy, Sakshi currently practises for three hours each in the early mornings and late evenings, besides preparing for her class 12th exams next year.<br /><br />“Once I complete my class 12th, I want to win as many medals as possible for India. India is no less than any other country, and it’s a matter of time before we start winning big,” she says.<br /><br />Winning a silver medal at her first state level championship, Sakshi went on to win a gold medal at Junior World Women Boxing Championship, Taipei, Taiwan, 2015 and won the bronze medal in 5th Nation’s Cup, Serbia, this year.<br /><br />Sakshi along with five others are financially supported by Asbah, a rice brand. “Often in our country, dreams and talent of young and deserving girls wither away for lack of proper financial support and encouragement. I really do not want to give up on my dream,” says the boxer. And she says, “A gold medal at the Olympics is a dream that I have.” <br /><br /></div>
