Owais Darvesh’s dream came true on Wednesday. The 10-year-old, who won the Maharashtra state boxing championship (U-12 cub category) and also the trophy for the best boxer, was felicitated by Percept during the launch of Lagaan Cup-Fight Nights on Wednesday. What’s more, Owais and his elder brother Moin — who, incidentally, won the title in the U-14 category — were given cheques of Rs11,000 each.
However, none of this floored Owais. Meeting his “icon” Vijender Singh thrilled the Christ Church (Byculla) student the most. Owais said he was absolutely surprised and amazed to meet the Olympic bronze medallist.
“He is my icon as far as Indian boxers are concerned. I wanted to meet him but did not think it would happen so quickly,” Owais told DNA on Thursday. Incidentally, this paper had, in its edition dated August 28, featured the brothers in its ‘Talent Hunt’ column.
So what did the champion boxer tell Owais? “He told me that we would meet in the future. The feeling of meeting him is yet to sink in. He has asked me to keep working hard on my fitness and practice regularly so that one day I would go on to represent my country,” Owais said.
The youngster oozed confidence and said if Vijender has won an Olympic bronze, “I would win gold.” “I told my classmates about my meeting with Vijender and they were very happy. I am on cloud number nine,” he added. Having won the state championships, the brothers would go on to represent Maharashtra at the national level.
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