Despite stiff resistance, 13-year-old Seema Shaikh reaches final of BMC girls U-17 boxing meet; father Mohammad Anwar insists she should give up boxing since sport isn't part of 'our culture'
Seema Shaikh (red corner) during her bout against Priya Yadav in the BMC girls U-17 boxing tournament yesterday. Pic/Suresh Karkera
Despite facing stiff resistance from her father to quit the sport, Seema Shaikh of BMC Jogeshwari Gumpha School made it to the final in the 40kg category of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) girls U-17 boxing tournament at NM Joshi Marg Municipal School in Lower Parel yesterday.
Seema Shaikh (red corner) during her bout against Priya Yadav in the BMC girls U-17 boxing tournament yesterday. Pic/Suresh Karkera
The 13-year-old punched hard to beat Priya Yadav of Akurli Road Municipal Hindi School (Kandivli) in the semi-finals by a unanimous decision.
Shaikh's road to ring so far has been a bumpy one, thanks to her father Mohammad Anwar Shaikh, who has is strictly against her boxing. Initially, he was also hesitant to send Seema for the final, but later changed his mind.
"She should quit sports and concentrate only on studies. Sports is not part of our culture. I will send her for this final, but after that, I'm not sure," Shaikh senior, who runs a sugarcane juice centre, told mid-day yesterday.
Young Seema is obviously confused about her boxing future.
"Earlier, my parents were always supportive. My mother still supports me, but nowadays my father is reluctant to send me for practice and matches. He wants me to stop boxing completely," said Seema.
Parental pressure
Her coach Neil Bawner rued the resistance towards sport shown by parents of promising athletes.
"A lot of athletes in our school had to stop sports due to parental pressure, which pretty much ends a career even before it starts," he said.
Meanwhile, Seema is not just proficient in boxing, but is also a trained judo player. She took up boxing only because she missed the cut for the BMC judo U-14 tournament as her bodyweight exceeded the designated weight category.
"I was told by my coach to give boxing a try as I did not get to compete in judo. I did not expect to reach the final. Now, I have to rethink which sport to pursue. My coach though, insists I carry on with both," she added.
Bawner said Seema is an inspiration for other girls to take up sport.
"Seema is not only good in sports, but she also excels in studies. Because of her, other girls are developing an interest in sports, which is good," he said.
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