Pune's Chandrika Pujari, a young boxer from a modest background, has won a silver medal at the ASBC Asian Boxing Championship held in Abu Dhabi, bringing pride to her country and community.
Living in a chawl on Tadiwala Road, Chandrika's journey into the world of boxing was full of obstacles.
Her family’s financial situation was challenging—her father, Borappa, works as a cleaner in a private company, while her mother, Yogita, works as a domestic helper. The family also has a younger son who requires medical treatment due to a disability.
Despite these challenges, Chandrika developed an interest in boxing during her school years at Sajanabai Bhandari School. Her talent was noticed by local coach Jayant Shinde, who began training her.
Later, she joined Sachin Shinde's academy, where her skills were further honed. As she progressed, Chandrika started to shine in various state and national-level boxing competitions.
After enrolling in Poona College, Chandrika participated in interstate competitions and consistently performed well. Her father made personal sacrifices, often borrowing money to ensure that she could compete in tournaments across India.
The company he worked for also provided financial assistance. Her growing reputation in the sport attracted the attention of the Sports Authority of India, which offered her additional training opportunities.
Chandrika’s career took a major step forward when she was selected to represent India at the ASBC Asian Boxing Championship in the UAE. After defeating a boxer from Kazakhstan in the semifinals, she advanced to the finals, where she lost to an opponent from Uzbekistan. Despite this defeat, Chandrika brought home the silver medal, raising the Indian flag high.
The success of Chandrika has sparked celebrations in her local community on Tadiwala Road. Social workers Sujit Yadav and Gautam Sawane honored her parents and coach, and sweets were distributed among the locals.
Chandrika’s father, Borappa, expressed his pride in his daughter’s accomplishments, stating, “We faced many struggles to help Chandrika become a boxer. She, in turn, has made our sacrifices worthwhile by winning a silver medal at an international competition and making our country proud.”