Muthu Boxing Club is the only surviving club from these parts of Telangana.
Published Date – Sun, 18 Jun 23 at 06:30pm
Kumram Bheem Asifabad: A 65-year-old boxing club in Kaghaznagar town continues to produce talented fighters despite financial challenges. Perhaps, it is the only surviving club in these parts of the state.
In the narrow alleys of Sirsilk Colony near the Mahankali Temple in Kaghaznagar Town, a boxing ring erected with plastic ropes and concrete poles under a big tree has witnessed the glory of the oldest club in Adilabad. The wrecked ring belonged to the Mutu Boxing Club, which was founded by Mutu who immigrated from Hyderabad to the town in 1958 in search of a livelihood.
For six years, the boxing club has been a reliable destination for emerging boxers not only from Kaghaznagar but also from neighboring remote areas of Sirpur (T), Dahegaon, Koutala, Bejjur, Penchikalpet and Chintalamanepalli mandals. It has been teaching combat sports to eager students for free. This is thanks to the dedication and commitment of Muthu Sekhar, the 64-year-old son of club founder Muthu.
The club’s achievements include P Laxmi Priya from Sirsilk Colony winning a silver medal in a national level boxing match at the National Boxing Association in Bengaluru in 2017 and competing in another boxing match in Haryana in 2021. M Sai from Sirsilk Colony won the 2021 Collegiate Boxing Bronze Medal.
“So far, the club has produced about 2,000 boxers, including about 100 state and 50 national players. Some boxers have cracked jobs in government departments such as Indian Railways. It used to be with the help of sponsors operated, but now students contribute to meet club and player expenses,” Muthu Sekhar told “Telangana today.’
Since 1979, Shekhar has passionately carried forward his father’s legacy. He recalled that Muthu, who died in 1992, learned the art of boxing from British officials in Hyderabad.
The experienced trainer said he is satisfied with the development of talented boxers from the towns and remote areas of the Silpur (T) parliamentary constituency. To his credit, Sekhar also competed in state events.
