Abid Khan, former Chandigarh boxer and a diploma holder in coaching from the National Institute of Sports (NIS), who was also a coach of the army boxing teams for 5 years, now drives a pick-up auto in his 60s to make ends meet. But the power of social media is helping him get back to action all over again. A YouTube channel named Sports Gaon had shared his video on YouTube, which was then shared on Twitter by Saurabh Duggal. Duggal’s post caught the attention of prominent personalities like Beijing Olympics bronze medallist Vijender Singh, 2010 CWG champion Manoj Kumar, Bollywood actor Farhan Akhtar and business tycoon Anand Mahindra.
Days after the video went viral, Khan has resumed his coaching career and started training children at the park near his flat in Dhanas, Chandigarh. Also, Anand Mahindra wants to support and invest in his ‘startup’ boxing academy. Replying to Duggal’s post, Mahindra wrote, “Thank you Saurabh, for telling us Abid’s story. I especially appreciate his not looking for a handout. In any case, I prefer investing in people’s talents & passion rather than offer charity. Please let me know how I can invest and support his ‘startup’ boxing academy…”
Thank you Saurabh, for telling us Abid’s story. I especially appreciate his not looking for a handout. In any case I prefer investing in people’s talents & passion rather than offer charity. Please let me know how I can invest and support his ‘startup’ boxing academy… https://t.co/409LslAvHu
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) April 18, 2021
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Abid Khan Had Trained Army Teams In Boxing For Five Years
Abid Khan had completed his diploma in coaching from NIS in 1988. The multiple award-winning boxer also trained army teams in boxing for five years. But after that, he couldn’t find himself a job and in the 1990s, he started working as a taxi driver in Saudi Arabia. When he returned back to India, he began to work as a driver and loader for a private firm. Later, he started driving his own pick-up auto.
This is heartbreaking yet so inspiring to see how humbly this sportsperson has coped with unfulfilled ambition. Can you please share his contact details? @duggal_saurabh https://t.co/QNC0RvlQ7q
— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) April 15, 2021
Destiny Can Give Rewards In Most Unexpected Ways
Amid these struggles, he was almost on the verge of giving up his boxing career. But destiny too has its own plans. Khan did not even ask for financial aid. But now his talent has come to the knowledge of thousands of people, including prominent personalities like Anand Mahindra. Anand Mahindra Gifts House To Tamil Nadu’s Famous Idli Amma Who Sells Idlis At ₹1
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जब ज़िंदगी में जीने का जज़्बा हों तों रास्ते बन भी जाते है और सहायता भी हो जाती है बस आगे बढ़ने की इच्छा हों, भाई @duggal_saurabh को भी आभार जिसने इनके जज़्बे को एक नई दिशा दिलाने में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका दिखायी, अगर आप नहीं इनकी पहचान करवाते तों इनका सपना कभी पूरा नहीं होता। जयहिंद https://t.co/8gfhxR1NSP
— Manoj Kumar OLY🇮🇳 (@BoxerManojkr) April 16, 2021
According to an Indian Express report, Harjinder Pal Singh, former secretary, Chandigarh Boxing Association, said, “I have known Abid since 1980 as we competed in many nationals together. It was mix of his uprightness and bad luck which resulted in him getting no job. Earlier, I had offered him to buy a new pick-up but he had refused. We hope that he will be helped in a way that it helps him in long term.”. Former national champion and Chandigarh Police Inspector Jasbir Singh said, “We collected more than ₹60,000 and deposited in his bank account. He has only accepted as we are his friends and we want to see him back to boxing in a way or two,”
First Published: April 19, 2021 6:59 PM