Saweety Boora wanted to quit boxing for kabaddi after Tokyo Olympics qualifiers snub

Indian women pugilist Saweety Boora has recalled the time she had thought of quitting boxing and returning to kabaddi after she wasn’t selected to compete in the Olympic qualifiers for Tokyo 2020.

The Haryana boxer, who won a silver and a bronze medal at the Asian Boxing Championships and a silver medal at the Worlds, was so upset that she left the national boxing camp.

"I left the camp and came back because I wasn't given a chance to participate in the Olympics qualifying,” Sweety Boora said in Sports Tiger's series 'Mission Gold'.

“I came back home thinking that if I don't even get a chance to participate in Olympics qualification what is the use of continuing with the sport.

"I have played at the world and Asian level and have taken everything. The only thing that I don't have is an Olympic medal. I was even ready to take up kabaddi if this was the case," the 2014 World Boxing Championships silver medallist added.

The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) had instead sent Pooja Rani to compete from the middleweight (75kg) at the Asia Oceania Olympic Qualifiers and she became the first Indian boxer to seal a Tokyo Olympic berth by defeating Thailand’s  Pornippa Chutee in the quarter-final round.

Saweety Boora was a state-level kabaddi player for Haryana before she switched to boxing in 2009. She was picked to play in the junior national kabaddi championship, but Saweety opted out due to her exams.

A persevering Saweety Boora, however, has now shaken off her disappointment and is already preparing for a place in the Paris Olympics 2024.

"I am someone who works day and night to achieve my dreams. I still have three more years to prepare for the quadrennial event and I hope to represent my nation in the next Olympics for sure," Saweety said.