NEW DELHI: India’s Commonwealth Games silver medallist Jadumani Singh Mandengbam may have missed out on a gold medal in Glasgow, but the 22-year-old boxer believes a major part of his success has come from the unwavering support of veteran pugilist Sarita Devi.After finishing second in the men’s 55kg category, Jadumani credited Sarita for shaping his boxing career from his early days, saying her guidance, encouragement and belief played a crucial role in his journey to the Commonwealth Games final.
‘Sarita Devi ma’am has supported me immensely’
Jadumani produced an impressive campaign at CWG 2026 before settling for silver after losing to Australia’s Jye Dixon by unanimous decision in the final on Saturday. Despite pushing the Australian throughout the three-round contest, Dixon’s cleaner scoring and disciplined counter-attacking earned him the gold medal.Reflecting on his performance and journey after the final, Jadumani spoke highly of Sarita Devi’s influence on his career.“Sarita Devi ma’am has supported me immensely since my childhood. She has done so much for me, whether it was guiding me about my diet, training, or every other aspect of being an athlete. She speaks to me every day and regularly video calls me. She has always taught me how to approach the sport and what it takes to become a successful boxer,” Jadumani told IANS.The young boxer revealed that Sarita remained closely involved throughout his Commonwealth Games campaign, analysing his performances and helping him prepare for every challenge.“During this competition, her support was even more significant. She constantly guided me on how to fight, what to do, and what to avoid. She watched every one of my bouts and gave me valuable feedback after each fight. She kept motivating me by telling me that I would return home with the gold medal. That belief and encouragement meant a lot to me,” he added.Sarita Devi, a former world champion, is one of India’s most accomplished boxers. She has won a World Championships gold and two bronze medals, besides an Asian Games bronze, a Commonwealth Games silver and multiple Asian Championships medals, including five golds.
‘This silver will motivate me to work harder’
Although Jadumani narrowly missed the top step of the podium, he said the silver medal has strengthened his confidence ahead of bigger challenges.“I am happy to have won a medal for India, but of course I wanted the gold. This silver will motivate me to work even harder. My focus now is on improving myself and performing well in the Asian Games and other major international competitions,” he said.Jadumani enjoyed a memorable run in Glasgow, defeating Scotland’s Aaron Cullen in his opening bout before overcoming Pakistan’s Sumama Rehman in the round of 16. He then defeated Zambia’s Mwengo Mwale in the quarterfinal and Namibia’s Philip Haoseb in the semifinal to book his place in the gold medal bout.In the final, Jadumani started strongly and matched Dixon in the early exchanges, but the Australian gradually took control with precise counter-punching. The Indian continued to fight until the final bell, earning a hard-fought silver medal on his Commonwealth Games debut.
