Q1. Can you tell us something about yourself?
Ans. My name is Gauri but people like to call me Guru. I am pursuing Bcom Hons. I am a sports person and have been playing since I was 11. Before becoming a boxer I was an athlete and won many medals at the state and the national level at the age of 12-13. I initially got interested in boxing because of my brother and in 2018 I played for the first time at the state and the national level and won gold medals at both levels. After that, as I was in DAV, I played for its nationals and the CBSE nationals too and won a gold medal for both. Then, in 2019 I participated in SGFI but I injured my wrist. I still tried, and luckily I won a gold medal in it and I also participated in many other individual sports competitions like taekwondo, wrestling, mixed martial arts, wushu and won many medals, also gold at grappling nationals. Then in 2020, I became the very first champion of Muay Thai and it was introduced in northern India at the time, it is an Indonesian sport. Right now I am practising daily in college and I might play at the university level.
Q. Which specific sport are you practising? Boxing or athletics? How do you manage your studies along with the games you play?
Ans. Our college does provide professional boxing training. So right now I am playing softball with boxing. I have played throwball and handball at the school level and I am also thinking of playing it at the national level. Answering your other question, our practice usually gets over by 10–11 in the morning and we have been instructed by our HOD to talk to our teachers about managing and the teachers have been very supportive.
Q. Being a commerce student have you ever thought of pursuing something in the same background like a professional course like CA or something? Do your parents allow you to stay outside for days when it comes to sports?
Ans. I thought of going for CA since I had commerce with maths and my family also pressurized me for the same. But I was always into sports. I am pursuing Bcom Hons just because my parents wanted me. So it's more like I am pursuing this course for them and playing sports for myself. And as you know I have been playing since I was 11 so at that time we had our coaches with us. That was a relief for my parents and now my parents trust me enough to let me go outside for days and play.
Q. Do you have any person who stayed with you through thick and thin? Which is your favourite memory from sports that holds a special place in your heart?
Ans. Yes, my dad. When I decided I wanted to start boxing my mother was against it as I have delicate skin so she was worried I would get my face injured even now I suffer from many skin diseases so my mother suggested it to me. At that time my dad told me if you want to do this you go and do this because it's better to try now rather than regret it later. Talking about my special memory, I felt so proud when I played SGFI even after I injured my wrist. There was a point when I even left hope because as a boxer your hand plays a huge part in boxing so how can you even play after your wrist is injured? After that, I decided to play and give my best and after that, I won a gold medal. So that was a quite special memory for me.
Q. Have you faced any problems when you were playing for the nationals? What's your favourite memory from college?
Ans. I remember when I was playing for the CBSE nationals I got into a fight with my mother I left my home for the nationals at 10 pm and reached the venue at 2 am and everybody there was like why did she come alone and in boxing, it is mandatory to have a side coach so there I met a girl here name was varchasa and she helped me out at that time but at the end, I won a medal. In college, every day I and my friends Tanuja and Anupama meet and do something new, and currently, we are working as FOP which is a field of play in an organization called football Delhi. This opportunity is not something I was looking for but it has helped me a lot and now I am loving it.
Q. How do you manage your economical resources? Do you share anything else about yourself?
Ans. I have been playing for the federation so they also sponsor us. Other than that my parents have been very supportive since they are also getting their desired outcomes.
Me, I wanna say that from the beginning I was a multi-talented girl. I was good at studies, art, singing, and sports. I even got selected at Indian idol Auditions but I had to back out. In arts, I won awards like the best caricaturist award in 2018 and 19. So, I just wanna say that from the beginning I tried my best.
Highlights:
Gauri, also known as Guru, is an athlete and a boxer.
She is multi-talented from the beginning, and she is good at arts and singing. She has won many medals in art and was selected for the audition of Indian idol.
Initially, she was an athlete and won many medals but later got interested in boxing as well
She started boxing when she was 11 years old.
In 2018 she played for the first time at the state and the national level. She won gold medals at both levels.
She has also played for the DAV and the CBSE nationals and won gold medals at both.
During the SGFI, she got her wrist injured and almost lost hope in playing but she didn't give up and still tried her best and managed to bag the gold medal again.
Comments