India's promising boxer Ananta Chopade, who won a gold medal at the President's Cup in Indonesia on Sunday, credited his performance to Olympic bronze medal-winning boxer MC Mary Kom. Chopade, a silver medallist at the Senior Nationals in Pune last year, claims to have not got enough international opportunities. He discussed this with Mary Kom, who was also a gold medal-winning member of the Indian contingent in Indonesia, and she motivated him to prove his critics wrong.

'Partialty in boxing'

"There is a lot of partiality in boxing in India. Despite winning a silver at the Senior Nationals in Pune last year, I have not got a single international opportunity before this [President's Cup]. Since this is my first international event I was a bit nervous but Mary Kom gave me a lot of confidence by speaking to me throughout. She is a six-time World Champion and a huge inspiration for me. She said that I have to win a gold medal to overcome the injustice that has been done to me. Her encouraging words helped me win this gold," Chopade, 21, told mid-day after beating Afghanistan's Rahmani Ramish 5-0 in the 52 kg fly weight final.