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Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Jadumani ready to pack a punch at Liverpool Worlds
New Delhi: Jadumani Singh Mandengbam remembers the day he decidedly switched from football to boxing. Competing in a district-level tournament in Imphal in 2016, with former world champions Sarita Devi and MC Mary Kom watching, the then 14-year-old Neymar fan, weighing only 28kg, won the 36kg division, and as a reward received ₹500 each from Sarita and Mary. Jadumani Singh Mandengbam from Manipur's Iroishemba village will represent India in his first senior World Championships at Liverpool. (BFI) Nine years on, while football continues to be his first love and Neymar his hero, Jadumani's boxing career is taking the shape he once dreamt of. The 21-year-old from Manipur's Iroishemba village will represent India in his first senior World Championships at Liverpool. It follows his senior national title won earlier this year and a bronze medal at the World Boxing Cup in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil where he beat England's 2024 World Boxing Cup Finals silver medallist Ellis Trowbridge in the quarter-final. His semi-final ended in a narrow loss to Uzbekistan's Asian U-22 champion, Asilbek Jalilov, but Jadumani returned a more aware boxer. 'That tournament told me a lot about my game. At the elite level, you can't wait for the opponent to strike first and then launch your attacks. You ought to impose yourself from the first round itself,' he said. Jadumani boxed with that attacking strategy in the second leg of World Boxing Cup in Astana, Kazakhstan but lost a close quarter-final to eventual silver medallist from The Philippines, Jay Bryan Baricuatro. 'I think I should have won that bout 5-0 or 4-1...I was not happy with the judging, but I will channel my frustration at the Worlds,' he said. The World Championships in September will be India's first major boxing tournament since the Paris Olympics from where the six-member Indian contingent returned medalless. Indian boxing itself is undergoing a churn with the sport being run by an interim committee. The change is evident in Jadumani's division too with two former world medallists — Amit Panghal (2019) and Deepak Bhoria (2023) — currently out of favour. 'I am ready to take the mantle from them. I have learned a lot from them, especially from Amit with whom I have sparred a lot, but I feel I have the quality to be India's first-choice flyweight,' he said. The 11 Gorkha Rifles havaldar walked the talk after topping the weeklong assessment in NIS, Patiala in early July where he topped the five-boxer group on all key parameters – weight management, gym performance, running and sparring. 'We did three 800m runs in the assessment period and I clocked 2 minutes 15 seconds. I think that was at least 10 seconds better than the next-placed boxer. Similarly, my bench press averaged 74kg while the next best was around 70kgs,' he said. Jadumani's foray into boxing happened in 2016 when the football crazy kid grew tired of waiting for his chance. His elder cousins were regularly picked to play over him at their local EYGC Club, and his uncle suggested that Jadumani pick an individual sport. Three months into training at a local academy, about 40km from his village, he was spotted by Leishangthem Chinglen, an ex-army man who was a former national level boxer. 'He sheltered and mentored me. Every week, Chinglen would take me to at least 2-3 academies for sparring, from National Sports Academy and SAI Manipur to Sarita Devi and Mary Kom's academy,' Jadumani said. So confident was Chinglen of his ward's ability that he would often challenge heavier boxers to take him on, and sure enough, the sub-30kg Jadumani would beat them. 'I remember beating 38kg, 42kg, and 46kg boxers. My basics were quite strong for that age. Chinglen taught me not to lose temper even if the opponent lands a punch.' Late in 2016, Jadumani was selected to Army Sports Institute, Pune but his career hit a roadblock in 2018 when he was deemed underweight even for the lowest division (46kg). For two years, he was stuck at 38kg, and when he finally met the standard, Covid struck. Another two-year wait followed, and it was not until 2022 that he got competition. 'I won the Youth Nationals gold and reached the Youth World Championships quarter-final on return. The wait seemed endless, but I never lost hope. I will make it all count at the Worlds,' he said.
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Vijender Singh turns ‘mentor' for Indian boxers ahead of World Championships
New Delhi: Indian boxer Vijender Singh during the felicitation ceremony of winners of the 2025 World Boxing Cup organised by the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), in New Delhi. (PTI Photo/Karma Bhutia) (PTI07_24_2025_000638A) New Delhi: Giving back to the sport which has given him so much joy in life, Beijing Olympics bronze medallist Vijender Singh has turned 'mentor' for the Indian boxing team which will be participating in the upcoming World Championships in Liverpool, UK, in September. Speaking to TOI , Vijender — once the face of country's boxing following his Olympics and World medals — said he would visit training camps of both men and women boxers in the coming days to give pep talks and help the pugilists develop a strong mindset in preparation for the Worlds. 'I recently had a word with Ajay Singh (Boxing Federation of India's interim committee chairman). We discussed ways to prepare our boxers for upcoming Worlds and later for Asian Games (2026) and L A Olympics (2028). I want to use my expertise in nurturing future talent. It's been decided that I'll be visiting both the camps and guide our boxers preparing for the Worlds through my knowledge and technical aspect. I'll be there as a mentor for them. There will be a month-long camp in India for our boxers before they depart for Liverpool,' Vijender said. Poll What aspect of Vijender Singh's mentorship do you think will be most beneficial for the boxers? Technical skills Mental mindset Experience and strategy 'All our efforts are directed in one direction – to win medals for the country. I am open to full-time coaching role. Life without boxing is so boring and I don't ever want to retire. I'll continue my association with boxing till my last breath.' Sources in the interim committee informed that once the BFI's election process concludes by Aug 31 and a new set of office-bearers takes charge, Vijender would be appointed as one of the coaches for the men's team. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Extra.ie
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Dawn O'Porter reveals she's ‘always broke' despite Hollywood life with Chris O'Dowd
British writer and television presenter Dawn O'Porter has revealed that despite being married to Hollywood actor Chris O'Dowd, she is 'always broke' and lives 'pay cheque to pay cheque' The author and TV presenter, 46, who wed the Irish star back in 2012, made the stark admission in a recent interview, revealing she works hard to cover bills and rent. 'I work pay cheque to pay cheque,' said Dawn. 'I'm always broke. My card got declined last week. I'm like, what the f*** is happening? When will this end?' British writer and television presenter Dawn O'Porter has revealed that despite being married to Hollywood actor Chris O'Dowd, she is 'always broke' and lives 'pay cheque to pay cheque' Pic: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage Speaking on the White Wine Question Time podcast, she explained: 'I've never seen myself as a celebrity. Even though I'm married to Chris, who is quite a well-known actor, I don't think either of us have ever seen ourselves as celebrities. 'I guess if I was a celebrity, I'd get paid lots of money to do things that aren't necessarily my job or don't really feed what I do, but I don't. My job is writing, with the occasional little ad on Instagram to pay the rent.' Last Summer, Dawn returned to London with Chris and their two children; Art and Valentine, after eight years in Los Angeles. The author and TV presenter, 46, who wed the Irish star back in 2012, made the stark admission in a recent interview, revealing she works hard to cover bills and rent. Pic:for THR The star recalled meeting Chris just as her own career was collapsing, adding: 'Everything had fallen apart.' 'My TV career had just gone. I was so poor. I was so upset. I had zero confidence. I didn't know what I was going to do. I'd just met Chris, and he was on this trajectory up. I thought, well maybe this is just it. I'm just a girlfriend, and that's it.' Dawn's first ever red carpet was the 2011 premiere of Bridesmaids, the film that inevitably catapulted Chris to international fame. 'I work pay cheque to pay cheque,' said Dawn. 'I'm always broke. My card got declined last week. I'm like, what the f*** is happening? When will this end?' Pic:for BFI 'I always thought that if I was in this position, it would be because I'd done something to deserve it,' she reflected. 'We were living in LA and I just said to Chris, I've got to go back to London to try and claw back my career,' she said of their first time in the states. 'And we came back to London for a bit and I'd go for these meetings at TV production companies and I'd been successful. 'I had my own series on Channel 4… and they'd be like, 'What do you want to do?' and I was like, 'I want to do what I do'. But no one wanted to employ me.'
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The Fantastic Four: First Steps to Chief of War: your complete entertainment guide to the week ahead
The Fantastic Four: First StepsOut now Marvel returns with a retro-pastiche version of The Fantastic Four. The family of superheroes: Reed Richards AKA Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm AKA Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm AKA Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm AKA the Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) battle space god Galactus (Ralph Ineson, AKA Finchy from The Office), in a 1960s-themed adventure. We Crip film festivalBFI Southbank, London, 26 & 27 July With a title chosen by a disability advisory board aiming to positively reclaim the slur 'crip', this festival at the BFI Southbank (previously known as Busting the Bias) offers films, panels and more to celebrate Disability Pride Month, across both days this weekend, including a short film programme It's Not You, It's Ableism and a closing-night event, An Audience With Kyla Harris: Cripping the Screen Industries. GazerOut now Film-making couple Ryan J Sloan and Ariella Mastroianni co-wrote and self-funded this low-budget 16mm film noir together, for him to direct and its stylish slow burn is the real deal. Mastroianni receives an offer that seems too good to be true, and – whoops! – by the time she realises, she's in too deep to get out. The Bad Guys 2Out now Sam Rockwell returns as the voice of Mr Wolf, head honcho of the notorious reformed crime outfit the Bad Guys, together with his right-hand snake, Mr Snake (Marc Maron), master of disguise Mr Shark (Craig Robinson) and the rest of the gang,, in this sequel to the 2022 family animation. This time around, they're being pulled back in for one last job by an all-female criminal squad featuring the voices of Danielle Brooks, Maria Bakalova and Natasha Lyonne. Catherine Bray JIN Tue & Weds, The O2, London With BTS returning next year after each member completed their time in the South Korean military, the band's vocalist JIN is heading to London for two solo shows. Expect songs from his two mini-albums – including the buoyant, Gary Barlow-penned Running Wild – plus some BTS bangers. Boardmasters Wed to 10 August, Newquay, Cornwall Cornwall's beach-based singing and surfing extravaganza returns with a lineup headlined by Raye, Central Cee and the Prodigy. Other artists serenading the sea include Leigh-Ann, Flo, Wet leg, and, as seems obligatory for every festival this year, Natasha Bedingfield is also involved. Michael Cragg Claire Martin with Ian ShawSt Mary's Church, Petworth, 29 July The partnership of world-class UK jazz vocalists Claire Martin and Ian Shaw has kept its hip vivacity for more than 25 years, their performances unfailingly entertaining, witty and often moving gems of the jazz singer's subtle art. This gig, with Shaw also on piano, reinvents a century of classic hits, from wartime anthems through to Bowie, Joni Mitchell and beyond. Andrew Clements The AtonementHereford Cathedral, 31 July Among the more regulation choral fare in this year's Three Choirs festival, a revival of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's festival commission from 1903 stands out. Depicting the events leading up to Christ's crucifixion as described in the gospels, The Atonement is a five-movement sacred cantata; Samuel Hudson conducts the Hereford performance, which marks the 150th anniversary of Coleridge-Taylor's birth. John Fordham Arctic ExpressionsKirkleatham Museum, Redcar, to 28 September This touring exhibition from the British Museum delights in the resilience and ingenuity of Arctic peoples. The Inuit and other cultures of the world's most northerly inhabited regions use the natural world around them to make everything they need – and create symbolic art that sees nature as powerful and sentient. Andy GoldsworthyRoyal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, to 2 November A retrospective for this artist who was making sustainable art long before the full facts of the climate crisis were known. Goldsworthy sculpts in the landscape instead of depicting it. He creates poetry from dry stone walling or fallen leaves. Here are 50 years' worth of artworks that stand with nature. Jane and Louise WilsonBloomberg Space, London, to 1 January The twin artists who became famous for their film art in the 1990s and were shortlisted for the Turner prize turn to more introspective, ancient themes as they investigate the archaeology of the City of London, in this gallery adjoining the Roman temple to Mithras. See all that lies beneath. Secrets of the ThamesLondon Museum Docklands, to 1 March This exhibition takes you on a filthy, muddy quest for wonder and history. It celebrates mudlarking, the popular hobby that has some Londoners spending weekends in wellies on the Thames shoreline. You can find anything in and by this great river, from Roman bricks to clay pipes and Victorian bottles. Jonathan Jones Patti HarrisonSoho Theatre Walthamstow, London, ; Soho theatre, London, to 7 August The wildly irreverent US comic (Poker Face, I Think You Should Leave) pitches up in London for a bumper Soho Theatre run: first a two-hour standup extravaganza in Walthamstow, then a variety show residency in Soho called Don't Ask – a title that offers some clue to Harrison's trademark blend of chaotic, envelope-pushing humour. Rachel Aroesti Brixton CallingSouthwark Playhouse, London, to 16 August The origin story of the O2 Academy Brixton, transformed from a derelict cinema into a famed music venue by Simon Parkes. Starring actor-musician Max Runham and featuring a live 80s soundtrack of reggae, punk, rock and rave. Miriam Gillinson Make it HappenFestival theatre, Edinburgh, 30 July to 9 August A new play about the rise and fall of the Royal Bank of Scotland from the ever-insightful James Graham. How did the world's biggest bank grow unchecked at such a rate and what role did it play in the financial crash of 2008? Starring Succession's Brian Cox. MG Ensemble festivalRoyal Victoria Docks, London, A free festival of dance, circus, physical theatre and street art, curated by arts organisation Certain Blacks. Things to see include a splashy sustainability-themed 'water installation', an aerial dance show about the simple act of wanting a hug, and a tribute to 1950s dancehalls by Miss High Leg Kick. Lyndsey Winship Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion Chief of WarApple TV+, 1 August Hawaiian-born action hero Jason Momoa co-creates and stars in this historical drama about his spectacularly scenic birthplace. Alongside a largely Polynesian cast, Momoa plays the titular Ka'iana, a warrior determined to unify Hawaii's four islands at the turn of the 18th century as the threat of colonisation creeps ever closer. Destination XiPlayer & BBC One, 30 July, 9pm Attention Race Across the World stans: globetrotting gets (another) reality-gameshow twist in this series helmed by the great Rob Brydon. A group of contestants board a blacked-out bus; when they arrive at their destination they must battle to identify their European location – but a slew of twists make their task surprisingly tricky. Inside the Cult of the Jesus ArmyiPlayer & BBC Two, 27 July, 9pm Few real-life cult stories are as chilling as that of the Jesus Army, whose mission to build a Christian idyll in 1970s Northamptonshire descended into community mired in child sexual abuse. This two-part documentary traces the project's trajectory and the ongoing trauma it caused its members. LeanneNetflix, 31 July Sitcom maestro Chuck Lorre (Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory) teams up with Tennessee comedian Leanne Morgan to bring broad, network-style comedy to the streaming age with this warm, joke-laden show about a middle-aged woman adjusting to singledom after her husband unexpectedly leaves her. RA Grounded 2PC, Xbox; out 29 JulyThe sequel to Honey I Shrunk the Kids-style multiplayer game, in which you work in a team to fight off giant insects in an overgrown playground. Definitely not one for entomophobes. Tales of the ShirePC, PS5, Xbox, Switch; out 29 July Live that hobbit life in a refreshingly cosy take on the Lord of the Rings universe. No harrowing adventures here, just cooking, eating second breakfast and doing wee favours for your hairy-toed neighbours. Keza MacDonald Reneé Rapp Bite Me (out now) The 25-year-old actor, singer and non-stop quote machine (see her recent interview with comedian Ziwe for more details), returns with her second album of bolshy pop bops. Singles Mad and Leave Me Alone are pepped up vessels for brattish anger, while Why Is She Still Here? showcases Rapp's full-bodied voice. Wisp If Not Winter (out now) On Natalie R. Lu's debut album the San Francisco combines shoegaze, the Cocteau Twins and heavy rock, her featherlight voice often tossed about on waves of crashing guitars. That's showcased best on the heaving Breathes Onto Me, while electronic textures sparkle around the edge of Sword. The Armed The Future is Here and Everything Needs to Be Destroyed (out now) After going fully meta on 2023's Perfect Saviors by critiquing the concept of rock stardom via an album full of arena rock, the mysterious – the official lineup has never been confirmed – collective return with an all-guns-blazing hardcore album. Well Made Play might start like the Killers but soon sound like an aneurysm. Laura Groves Yes (out now) This four-track follow-up to 2023's Radio Red album, finds Bradford-born singer, songwriter and producer Groves offering up more heartfelt, 80s-indebted soft-pop. Featuring collaborations with the likes of Joviale and Fabiana Palladino, it's a perfect showcase for Groves' sonic world-building and melodic prowess. Michael Cragg Hurricane Katrina: Race Against TimeMonday, Disney+ Two decades on from the devastating Hurricane Katrina, this moving five-part series features testimony from survivors on how the storm engulfed New Orleans and ushered in a new era of American emergency responses. Democracy:DifferentlyPodcast Academics Keith Hyams and Jessica Sutherland host this engaging and detailed podcast discussing the state of modern democracy. Alongside experts, they analyse the practical ways developments such as fake news and AI are affecting our politics today. DubnoteOnline A nifty new app for musicians and creatives, Dubnote turns phone voice notes into categorised and combinable records of the creative process. Sift through sketches and organise thoughts from your mobile rather than doom-scrolling. Ammar Kalia
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Boxing: Jamwal hopes to build on brilliant start
New Delhi: Earlier this year, when Abhinash Jamwal defeated Shiva Thapa in the semi-final of Elite Men's National Boxing Championship on his way to the 65kg title, he turned a new leaf in his fledgling career. A 2015 World Championships bronze medallist, Thapa, despite being over the hill, has had little trouble dealing with domestic boxers. Just last year, he had defeated Jamwal in Shillong on the way to national title, but this time, the youngster had his moment. Boxer Abhinash Jamwal returned with silver medals from Brazil and Kazakhstan legs of World Boxing Cup. (BFI) That was just the beginning of what is turning out to be a remarkable season for Jamwal. The 22-year-old went on to win a silver each in the twin legs of World Boxing Cup in Brazil and Kazakhstan and followed it with topping the BFI interim committee's week-long assessment in Patiala that earned him a first-ever berth for a senior World Championships. The Worlds will be played in Liverpool from September 4-14. 'I am eagerly looking forward to it. I have learned a lot from my recent international outings and have been refining my technique in the camp,' Jamwal said. Among the major learnings that he alluded to is the need to maintain intensity through the three rounds and look to dominate the opponent. 'The judges tend to lean towards the boxer who is assertive. I usually take the first round slow and attack in the next two, but that strategy needs to change if I want to win at the international level,' he added. Jamwal, along with 70kg boxer Hitesh Gulia, are the only Indian boxers to medal at both World Cups this year. Interestingly, Jamwal lost both his finals to the same opponent, Brazil's Yuri Falcao. The latter defeated the Indian 5-0 in Foz do Iguacu (Brazil) while their Astana showdown was much closer with Falcao winning 3-2. 'He (Falcao) is a good boxer but I don't think he won because of some glaring technical deficiency in my game. I put on a much improved show in Astana and the coaches told me that the bout could have gone either way. If we meet at the World Championships in Liverpool, the result will be different,' he said of the fellow 22-year-old. Early life Hailing from Baloh village in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district, Jamwal comes from a humble family. His father, Vijay Singh, is a retired Havaldar in the Dogra regiment of Indian army while his mother, Meena Kumari, was a district-level kabaddi player. 'Both my parents are fond of sports and encouraged me to take it up in earnest,' he said. Jamwal's foray into boxing happened when, aged 8, he was brought to Chandigarh by his maternal uncle Rajesh Bhaboria for better education prospects. Taking note of his bubbling energy, his uncle took him to boxing coach Joginder Kumar, an Assistant Sub Inspector in Punjab Police who coached kids in a public park. In 2015, Jamwal participated in his first junior Nationals and a year later, was selected in SAI's Sangrur's centre. He broke into the junior national camp in 2018 and entered the senior camp in 2022 in the 63.5 kg class. It was a weight division dominated by Thapa and Manish Kaushik, but with both pugilists on their way down, the opportunity was ripe for Jamwal to step up. 'Shiva bhaiya is my idol. I have grown up watching his bouts and it was surreal to beat him this year. Even in defeat, he was very gracious and encouraged me to do better. Another boxer who I look up to is Vikas Krishan Yadav who has always been very supportive.' Last year, Jamwal competed in the second Olympic qualifier in Bangkok as a replacement for Thapa and defeated Lithuania's Andriejus Lavrenovas with a 5-0 verdict before losing to Columbia's Jose Manuel Viafara in the second round. 'It was a great experience as it happened to be my first international exposure. I observed the foreign boxers closely and took mental notes, all of which came handy this year,' he said. At the Worlds, Jamwal plans to rely on his superior reach to make an early impression. 'I am 6 feet tall which is a rarity in my weight class. I will look to use my reach to collect some points early on. Once I have sussed out the opponent, I can really go on the offensive,' he concluded.
