Gold-winning international boxer Anant Chopade slogs on farm

NAGPUR: Anant Chopade’s days are spent toiling in sweltering heat at his 2-acre farm in Buldhana’s Sawna village. In normal circumstance the 22-year-old pugilist would have been busy sparring with his national teammates in Patiala. But, like millions of other lives, Anant’s too has been turned upside down by the coronavirus spread and resulting lockdown.
“I have been working at the farm for more than two months.I have never stayed away from the boxing ring for this long since I made my debut in junior section… boxing action should start soon," Anant, who was the 52kg gold medalist of the 2019 President Cup at Indonesia, said.
It’s not that the youngster has complaints about the hardships of working in the farm. Anant, the younger of the two Chopade brothers, has seen his family being at the receiving end of life for more than a decade. Though the Chopade’s had a farm, the returns from it were not enough to sustain the family.
His parents — Pralhad and Kushivarta — worked as farm labourers. His brother drove auto-rickshaw as the family somehow managed to make the ends meet. The family’s fortunes changed after Anant’s rise in the boxing world.
Anant, who has remained a constant part of the national camp for last four years, secured a job in Indian Railways in 2018. With boxing taking centre-stage, Anant has mostly been away from his village. “This is the first time in last four years that I have stayed so long at my village,” said Anant, who lost a close battle in the quarterfinal during 2019 Japan tour.
Last year was a special one for the product of Akola’s Krida Prabodini boxing academy. Apart from winning gold medal in Indonesia, he received a life-changing mantra from six-time world champion Mary Kom, who was also a part of that tour.
Being at the receiving end of referees decision in close bouts is part and parcel of any boxers’ life. But Anant now knows the best way to deal with it, thanks to Mary Kom. “She told me that the only way to take care of results is to fight-back harder and knock your opponent down. The advice coming from Mary Kom has not only changed my outlook in the ring but also in life,” Anant said.
The lone international boxer from Buldana had cleared the national camp trials in February. The camp was supposed to begin in March but then Covid-19 happened. The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) is planning to start a camp for 'select' boxers in Patiala. Anant is optimistic about making the cut. “Nothing is guaranteed, but I’m positive about being called for the camp," said Anant, a Shiv Chhatrapati Awardee.
Forced away from the ring, Anant has plenty of time to reflect back on his life. “All credit goes to my coach in Akola Satish Chandra Bhat. During my early days he nurtured me like his own son. Maharashtra Boxing Association (MBA) secretary Rakesh Tiwari is the other one who always supported me,” he said.
He also remembers how bagging the Railways job changed his life. “The day I got the job, I told my parents to stop working as daily-wage farm labourers. Now, they do work only in our farm. Carrying a basket on his head, my father sells vegetables and other produce in the village," said Anant.
"Earlier, ours was family with small piece of land and no other source of income. The struggles did not let us think beyond ‘do waqt ka khana’. But after I got the job and played for India, the entire village is now proud of me. We are recognized. People treat my parents with respect," said Anant.
Anant’s parents wanted their sons to get decent jobs. They could not send their elder son to college for want of money. "My father wanted me to get a government job. As I was active in sports, a sports teacher in our town advised my parents to send me to the Akola’s Krida Prabodini boxing academy in Akola in 2008," said Anant, who stayed at the academy for 11 years. His parents agreed, and son justified their decision with his hard work.
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