His father died young and financial hardship forced him to quit boxing and work as a school security guard; years later, Sumit Kundu survived a career-threatening injury and is now going to the Asian Games

Every era of sport produces a story that transcends the boundaries of an arena. Sumit Kundu's life is a masterclass in raw human resilience, a journey defined by devastating loss, sacrifices made at a young age, and an incredible comeback against all odds.The early tragedy and big sacrificeBorn in Dhakal village in Jind, Haryana, Sumit took up boxing in 2013, drawn to the discipline and grit of the ring.However, hardship struck early when he lost his father at a young age. To keep the family afloat, his mother began taking on odd tailoring jobs, working endless hours just to provide basic meals.Watching his family struggle under immense financial pressure, Sumit made a heartbreak decision: he hung up his boxing gloves in his teens and stepped away from the sport.Taking a job as a security guard at a local school, the promising athlete put his personal ambitions aside so he could bring home a steady income.A village unites for a second chanceSumit’s story could easily have ended at those school gates. But the elders in Dhakal village knew his raw talent in the ring was too rare to waste.Recognizing his potential, the village community rallied behind him, pooling their personal funds to cover his essential dietary and training expenses so he could quit his job and return to boxing.Repaying their faith with absolute dominance, Sumit surged through the ranks. He secured gold at the National School Games in 2018, dominated the 2019 Khelo India Games, and stunned the national circuit by claiming the Senior National Championship title on his debut in 2021.The prize money from these early victories went straight back into his nutrition and equipment, fueling his rise to international competition.Rising to International StardomBy 2022, Sumit was established as one of Indian boxing’s most exciting prospects.Representing the nation, he clinched a Gold medal at the 2022 Thailand Open and pulled off a stunning upset at the prestigious Strandja Memorial tournament by defeating World Championship silver medalist Dzhambulat Bizhamov.Sumit went on to represent India at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the World Championships, earning a spot as an Army Havildar through his sports achievements.The career-threatening nightmareJust as his momentum peaked, disaster struck during the national championships during the Paris Olympic qualifiers.Sumit suffered a severe ACL and meniscus tear in his knee, an injury so severe it sidelined him for nearly two years and ruled him out of the Paris Olympics.Following surgery, he spent a grueling year and a half in rehabilitation in Mumbai. Doubts naturally crept in. "Thoughts crossed my mind to quit boxing... After rehab, I didn't feel the same energy in my knees. I felt my boxing career was over," he later admitted.Kept afloat by the guidance of his childhood coach Ved Prakash, his family, and trainers, Sumit pushed through the physical and mental pain to rebuild his lower-body strength from scratch.The unstoppable comebackDropping down to the 70kg weight class, Sumit made his return at the national selection trials for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.He delivered a sensational performance, defeating World Cup gold medalist Hitesh Gulia in the semifinals before beating Deepak in the final to seal his official berth.From guarding school doors to standing tall on the international stage, Sumit Kundu has proved that no blow life lands is powerful enough to break a true champion.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.