A Tea Seller and a Champion Boxer – Where there is a will there is a way!

October 13, 2018

By Rashi Agarwal

We all know Olympic Bronze medallist boxer Vijender Singh. He is a role model for all
amateur boxers. Just a few minutes from his house in Bhiwani district in Haryana is another boxer Rajesh Kumar Kasana who has already entered the professional boxing league. However, he has no other sources of income to feed himself and his family apart from a small tea stall.

Rajesh, popularly known as Luka in his village, starts his tea stall at 5 am, and runs the stall till 1 pm, when his brother takes over. He then heads home for lunch and a little rest and then goes on to his boxing practice by 6 pm. Rajesh happily follows this hectic schedule as he wants to fulfil his father’s dream. He says, “My father wanted me to become a boxer. I want to fulfil his dreams at any cost.” His father was a driver and died of cancer when Rajesh was still at school.

Rajesh entered the professional boxing circuit in 2015 and has won 9 out of the 10
matches he has played while one match was a draw. So technically he is unbeaten. He is in fact the Number 1 Lightweight professional boxer in India and is 221st in the world WBC) professional boxing rankings in his weight category.

However, outside the boxing worlds his life is a constant struggle due to lack of a steady source of income. However, now he is at least getting help from his promoters Royal Sports Promotions, in terms of his boxing gear, dietary requirements and daily
expenses. He says Vijender Singh is his idol, and he would love to meet him once and
get inspired.

Hats off to such Indian sports people who are strugglers in their sporting careers as well as in their personal lives, and despite that bring home so many laurels for the country!

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