Nitya Pandey’s parents are both differently abled.Her father, Birendra Kumar, a retired government school teacher, suffered a head injury in his youth after a fall and underwent surgery, which damaged his right arm and leg. Meanwhile, his mother had a physical disability affecting one of her legs since birth. As a result, they haven’t been able to fulfill all of their dreams, but their daughter is certainly trying to fulfill them to the best of her ability.Earlier this week, the 13-year-old girl from Pipra in Bihar’s Aurangabad was selected for the Sub-Junior Asian Boxing Championship to be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from May 1-16 after coming out on top during the trials held in Patiala.After starting her training at the Khelo India Small Center in Aurangabad under coach Akhil Raj just to stay fit, she will now compete in the U-15 group in the 52-55 kg category, and can’t wait to wear the India jersey for the first time.“I am very happy to know that, from now on, I will have ‘India’ written on my back with my name,” said Pandey, who is currently training at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) camp in Pune ahead of the continental tournament.And none of this would have been possible had it not been for his coach Raj, who started training him two years ago.“To this day, he remains the most important person behind my success. He trained me, taught me, and prepared me to compete and win at the state and national levels,” said Pandey.“Even now, as I prepare for the Asian stage, that’s what keeps me motivated, reminding me that I’m not inferior and I can achieve it.”Talking about his pupil, Raj himself couldn’t help but feel proud. After all, it was Raj who pushed him for trials at the SAI center in Hisar, where he has honed his skills over the past year.“He is still in the early stages, but dedication to the game is essential. The hunger to achieve is evident in him. Regular training helps, and at such a young age, you can’t expect much from him. Consistency is key,” said Raj, who is currently training in Patiala.“In terms of the way she plays, her height gives her an advantage with long reach. She plays a clean game and uses that reach effectively.”Apart from her coach, she is also grateful to her mother, Shweta Kumari, a housewife, who has always supported her boxing career.“My mom tells me that whatever I’m interested in, I should stick with it. She doesn’t believe in trying to do a little bit of everything. She feels that no one can really be good at everything. She says, ‘Since you are boxing now, focus on it and do it exceptionally well,'” Pandey added.Meanwhile, she is a big fan of Olympic bronze medalist and six-time world champion MC Mary Kom and has been trying to incorporate her style into her game.“I really like her technique. For example, the way she lands her right hooks, I find that very impressive. I also admire how she keeps her distance and fights on the outside,” added the youngster.Whether she can emulate her idol, even to an extent, remains to be seen. For now, his current achievement deserves to be celebrated. What stands out, however, is her focus and ambition, as she said, “I want to be the best boxer in Bihar, and eventually, the best in India.”
