Devendro's family calm on 'pre-medal bout'
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 08, 2012:
Manglembi Devi, mother of Laishram Devendro was praying before the shrine of Ibodhou-Ebendhou ( a local deity) at her Yurembam Awang Leikai residence in Imphal West and everybody was calm.
20-year-old boxer Laisrham Devendro will take on Irish boxer Paddy Barnes in the men's Olympics quarter finals in the wee hours of Thursday.
Some clubs and voluntary organisations of the area observed a prayer for him at a local deity worship place a few days back.
If the diminutive and fast Manipuri pugilist, whose performance in the pre-quarter final fight has been hailed and noted, wins Thursday's fight a medal is sure for the country.
"Before and after his two bouts, my son called me over the phone.
He always told me he would do his best to bring laurels to the country and the State and we also encouraged him to perform his best," said Devendro's father Laishram Jugindro.
Jugindro, a poor farmer has done great for sports as he has groomed two great boxers among his four children.
Besides Devendro, his elder sister Laishram Sushila is also a National boxing champion.
Devendro's boxing icon during his childhood days was Sushila and on his insistence, he was sent to Army boys camp in Pune at the tender age of 10.
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"Thereafter he bagged laurels in various State, National and international championships," Jugindro told The Sangai Express today afternoon.
Minutes after Manglembi completed her afternoon worship session, she opened a family photo album and showed Debendro's pictures in different moods and locations.
"May the Almighty shower strength and skill to my son.
I want to see him return with a medal," a calm Manglembi said as her youngest daughter Brojeshori Devi (Devendro's elder sister) arranged seats for visiting reporters at their residence surrounded by rows of trees.
Incidentally Jugindro wanted Brojeshori to take up sports but she is yet to decide.
"Since I wanted her (Brojeshori) to take archery I bought a bow-and-arrow set for her recently and when I showed it to her, she said she would decide later," the sports loving father said.
"The reason behind my reluctance to enter sports is my family's poor economic condition.
But I'll do after my brother's success," Brojeshori said.