Imphal, November 06 2008: HOW MANY generations will Mohammad Ali inspire to take up the sport that every parent in the planet is afraid of? The latest is a young one from Manipur who has just returned from Mexico after cornering all glory in the 48kg class and of course, a gold medal.

Thokchom Nanao Singh, the new star in the ring after Vijender Singh, Akhil Kumar and Jitender Kumar scripted a new chapter in the history of Indian boxing in Beijing.

Some 30 km away from Manipur's capital Imphal, a news clipping of Mohammad Ali lured a starry-eyed Nanao from the football field to the boxing ring.

"Actually, it was a footage that came in the news about Ali that hooked me.

I told my father to get films of Ali," said Nanao, who has just returned from the World Youth Boxing Championships in Mexico.

"I left home early and had been leading a routined army life.

I really don't miss being a teenager.

I talk to my friends on and off but I can't really give my routine a slack.

But none was as big a success as the gold in Mexico.

"Actually the fight in the semifinal against Beccu Jeremy of France was more fascinating than the final where I fought a Russian," he recounted.

Not the aggressive one in the ring, Nanao's style is that of a counter-puncher.

"Sometimes it's a better strategy to wait and hit back," said Nanao.

And when he attacks, it is usually a flurry of punches thrown at the opponent at tremendous speed.

When reminded of a certain Dingko Singh, also a Manipuri who won Asian Games gold in Bangkok, Nanao gets excited.

"His gold was a huge encouragement to us.

He was a fierce fighter".

A student of the Army Boys Sports Company first and later shifted to Army Sports Institute in Pune, he has his eyes set on the 2012 London Olympics.

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