As the Asian Games approach, Sumit Kundu carries one of Indian boxing’s more inspiring comeback stories. From Dhakal village in Haryana, he has battled financial difficulties, injury and a long absence from competition to find his way back to the national team.
Overview
Sumit started boxing in 2013, but his family’s financial struggles soon forced him to make a difficult choice. After losing his father at a young age, he stepped away from the sport and worked as a security guard at a school. Support from elders in his village eventually helped him return to boxing.
His comeback gathered pace in 2018 when he won gold at the National School Games, became the junior national champion and was named Best Boxer. He followed that with gold at the 2019 Khelo India Games.
In 2021, Sumit won the Senior Nationals title on his debut. The following year, he claimed gold at the Thailand Open and made an impression at the Strandja Memorial, where he defeated World Championship silver medallist Dzhambulat Bizhamov 5–0.
His progress was later interrupted by a serious ACL and meniscus injury ahead of the Paris Olympic qualifiers. The setback kept him away from boxing for nearly two years.
Sumit returned to international competition at the 2025 World Boxing Championships, reaching the pre-quarterfinals. His performances at the 2026 national selection trials then earned him India’s 70kg berths for both the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
Career Highlights
- 2018: Gold, National School Games; Junior National Champion and Best Boxer.
- 2019: Gold, Khelo India Games.
- 2021: Gold, Senior Nationals on debut.
- 2022: Gold, Thailand Open.
- 2022: Defeated World Championship silver medallist Dzhambulat Bizhamov at the Strandja Memorial.
- 2025: Reached the pre-quarterfinals of the World Boxing Championships.
- 2026: Won India’s 70kg berth for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
Looking Ahead: Asian Games
The 2026 Asian Games mark another important step in Sumit’s comeback. After overcoming financial hardship, a serious injury and a long spell away from the ring, he has fought his way back into India’s senior setup.
Now competing in the 70kg category, Sumit will look to turn his return into a strong Asian Games campaign and prove that the difficult chapters of his career are behind him.
Bio Snapshot
- Full name: Sumit Kundu
- Born: 1 November 2002
- Hometown: Dhakal village, Haryana
- Category: Men’s 70kg
- Stance: Orthodox
- Sport: Boxing
- National achievement: Senior National Champion, 2021
- International achievement: Thailand Open gold, 2022
- Asian Games: India’s 70kg representative, 2026
The post From Hardship to the Asian Games: The Sumit Kundu Story appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.
