{"id":16894,"date":"2026-08-26T14:11:09","date_gmt":"2026-08-26T14:11:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=16894"},"modified":"2026-08-26T14:11:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T14:11:09","slug":"his-father-died-young-and-financial-hardship-forced-him-to-quit-boxing-and-work-as-a-school-security-guard-years-later-sumit-kundu-survived-a-career-threatening-injury-and-is-now-going-to-the-asian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=16894","title":{"rendered":"His father died young and financial hardship forced him to quit boxing and work as a school security guard; years later, Sumit Kundu survived a career-threatening injury and is now going to the Asian Games | Boxing News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-133543044,imgsize-28224,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/sumit-kundu.jpg\" alt=\"His father died young and financial hardship forced him to quit boxing and work as a school security guard; years later, Sumit Kundu survived a career-threatening injury and is now going to the Asian Games\" title=\"Sumit Kundu (ANI Photo)\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Every era of sport produces a story that transcends the boundaries of an arena. Sumit Kundu&#8217;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.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"2\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h3>The early tragedy and big sacrifice<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"4\"\/>Born in Dhakal village in Jind, Haryana, Sumit took up boxing in 2013, drawn to the discipline and grit of the ring.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"6\"\/>However, hardship struck early when he lost his father at a young age. To keep the family afloat, his mother began taking on odd tailoring jobs, working endless hours just to provide basic meals.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"8\"\/>Watching his family struggle under immense financial pressure, Sumit made a heartbreak decision: he hung up his boxing gloves in his teens and stepped away from the sport.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"12\"\/>Taking a job as a security guard at a local school, the promising athlete put his personal ambitions aside so he could bring home a steady income.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"14\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h3>A village unites for a second chance<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"16\"\/>Sumit\u2019s story could easily have ended at those school gates. But the elders in Dhakal village knew his raw talent in the ring was too rare to waste.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"18\"\/>Recognizing his potential, the village community rallied behind him, pooling their personal funds to cover his essential dietary and training expenses so he could quit his job and return to boxing.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"21\"\/>Repaying their faith with absolute dominance, Sumit surged through the ranks. He secured gold at the National School Games in 2018, dominated the 2019 Khelo India Games, and stunned the national circuit by claiming the Senior National Championship title on his debut in 2021.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"23\"\/>The prize money from these early victories went straight back into his nutrition and equipment, fueling his rise to international competition.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"26\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h3>Rising to International Stardom<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"28\"\/>By 2022, Sumit was established as one of Indian boxing\u2019s most exciting prospects.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"30\"\/>Representing the nation, he clinched 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.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"32\"\/>Sumit went on to represent India at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the World Championships, earning a spot as an Army Havildar through his sports achievements.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"35\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h3>The career-threatening nightmare<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"37\"\/>Just as his momentum peaked, disaster struck during the national championships during the Paris Olympic qualifiers.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"39\"\/>Sumit suffered a severe ACL and meniscus tear in his knee, an injury so severe it sidelined him for nearly two years and ruled him out of the Paris Olympics.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"41\"\/>Following surgery, he spent a grueling year and a half in rehabilitation in Mumbai. Doubts naturally crept in. &#8220;Thoughts crossed my mind to quit boxing&#8230; <!-- -->After rehab, I didn&#8217;t feel the same energy in my knees. I felt my boxing career was over,&#8221; he later admitted.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"45\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"47\"\/>Kept afloat by the guidance of his childhood coach Ved Prakash, his family, and trainers, Sumit pushed through the physical and mental pain to rebuild his lower-body strength from scratch.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"50\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h3>The unstoppable comeback<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"52\"\/>Dropping down to the 70kg weight class, Sumit made his return at the national selection trials for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"55\"\/>He delivered a sensational performance, defeating World Cup gold medalist Hitesh Gulia in the semifinals before beating Deepak in the final to seal his official berth.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"57\"\/>From guarding school doors to standing tall on the international stage, Sumit Kundu has proved that no blow life lands is powerful enough to break a true champion.<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/sports\/boxing\/his-father-died-young-and-financial-hardship-forced-him-to-quit-boxing-and-work-as-a-school-security-guard-years-later-sumit-kundu-survived-a-career-threatening-injury-and-is-now-going-to-the-asian-games\/articleshow\/133542658.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Every era of sport produces a story that transcends the boundaries of an arena. Sumit Kundu&#8217;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 big sacrifice Born in Dhakal village in Jind, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16895,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16894","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-31"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sumit-kundu.jpg","medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sumit-kundu.jpg","medium_large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sumit-kundu.jpg","large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sumit-kundu.jpg","1536x1536":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sumit-kundu.jpg","2048x2048":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sumit-kundu.jpg","blogsy-small":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sumit-kundu.jpg","blogsy-small-tall":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sumit-kundu.jpg","blogsy-small-square":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sumit-kundu.jpg","blogsy-small-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sumit-kundu.jpg","blogsy-medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sumit-kundu.jpg","blogsy-medium-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sumit-kundu.jpg","blogsy-large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sumit-kundu.jpg","blogsy-wide":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sumit-kundu.jpg"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"admin","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"Every era of sport produces a story that transcends the boundaries of an arena. Sumit Kundu&#8217;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 big sacrifice Born in Dhakal village in Jind, [&hellip;]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36"],"magazineBlocksPostViewCount":2,"magazineBlocksPostReadTime":3,"magazine_blocks_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sumit-kundu.jpg",400,225,false],"medium":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sumit-kundu.jpg",300,169,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sumit-kundu.jpg",150,84,false]},"magazine_blocks_author":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/author\/admin"},"magazine_blocks_comment":0,"magazine_blocks_author_image":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g","magazine_blocks_category":"<a href=\"#\" class=\"category-link category-link-31\">\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36<\/a>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16894","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16894"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16894\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/16895"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16894"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16894"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16894"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}