In Chennai’s Chintadripet, a boxing club gives underprivileged kids a fighting chance

On the morning of her second-semester exam, 18-year-old S.M. Durga Sri is hard at work, punching away at the bags at GS Boxing Club in Chintadripet. When asked if she’s worried about the exam, she replies with a smile, “Not really. I can manage.”

Ms. Durga, a gold medallist at the 5^th Junior Girls National Boxing Championship in 2022 and a bronze medallist at Khelo India 2024, is one of many young athletes at GS Boxing Club, led by a former railway loadman turned boxing coach. This club is dedicated to helping children from North Chennai rise socially and economically through boxing, hard work, and perseverance.

Ms. Durga got into boxing by chance, initially seeking fitness while her younger brother was interested in the sport. She says, “At first, it was tough, but we are a middle-class family, and boxing is one way to secure a good government job. Now, I love the sport and look forward to winning more medals.” Currently pursuing a B.Com degree at a private city college, Ms. Durga has been selected by the Sports Authority of India to compete in international contests, and she trains in Haryana. 

Around 35 students train at the club, which is on the first floor of the Greater Chennai Corporation’s gym in Chintadripet, twice a day — three hours in the morning and three in the evening. One key rule is that children must attend school.

The boxing club was founded by U. Govindaraj, a boxer certified by the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports. Initially, the club began as an informal training facility for local kids in Cox Colony, Chintadripet. However, the space was later repurposed for housing, and with the help of local government representatives, the current gym location was secured.

Mr. Govindaraj, passionate about using boxing to uplift local children, recalls his own childhood. “My father was a boxer but succumbed to alcoholism and passed away at just 32. I was only five at the time. Despite my interest in boxing, my mother forbade me from learning, but I secretly trained. It was only when I won a state-level gold medal that I showed my mother a newspaper clipping and revealed I’d been training.”

Eventually, family responsibilities led him to a job as a loadman with the Railways through the sports quota. During this time, Mr. Govindaraj started the GS Boxing Club to help local kids. He also hosts a free summer camp each year to introduce more children to the sport.

One such camp in 2018 drew in Kharthickeyen K.S., a young techie who was moved by the coach’s dedication, especially as Mr. Govindaraj used his own resources to fund the club. Inspired, Mr. Kharthickeyen began mobilising funds for the club. When the pandemic hit in 2020, he, along with his partner Abinaya J.L., helped local families by providing essentials. Initially, colleagues of Abinaya from Aqfer India donated funds. This effort evolved into the Whakapapa Foundation, which now supports the GS Boxing Club through donations and corporate social responsibility funds.

Realising the toll of managing two jobs, Mr. Govindaraj eventually left his loadman position and began coaching full-time. “We support him with a monthly salary, which is the main part of our fundraising efforts through the foundation,” Mr. Kharthickeyen says.

“Once I started full-time, my students began winning medals consistently,” says Mr. Govindaraj, who credits his growth as a boxer and coach to his mentor, boxing veteran A.K. Karunakaran. The full-time commitment also allows him to network and raise the club’s profile. “In sports, visibility is key. The coach’s presence represents the kids, and his integrity is the foundation of the entire club,” Mr. Kharthickeyen adds.

Beyond boxing, the children are trained in discipline, learning to avoid the bad habits that Ms. Abinaya says, are often prevalent in their local community.“The discipline these kids have is remarkable,” she adds.

Despite its impact, the club, which is gearing up for the upcoming summer camp from May 10, operates on a tight budget. It lacks a boxing ring, and there’s insufficient financial support to send athletes to tournaments. For example, 15-year-old Lenin, who was recently selected for the Asian Games from Tamil Nadu, couldn’t attend because they couldn’t afford to pay for a passport in time. 

“Nutrition is just as important as training. We spend a lot on milk, eggs, nuts, and protein for the children, especially during tournaments,” Mr. Govindaraj says, adding that a boxing ring and additional support for nutrition would make a significant difference.