Mr. Ram Awale – We are fit for boxing and Nepal’s boxers are brave in the ring

Mr. Ram Awale is the President of the Nepal Boxing Federation who has been working hard to develop all aspects of the sport in the South Asian country. Mr. Ram Awale and the other key persons in Nepal’s boxing such as Mr. Bishnu Gopal Shrestha and Mr. Sabin Bhattacharya are focusing to their international connections well enough.
Nepal is a developing boxing country in our continent which needs support in the future but in spite of their difficulties the South Asian nation are sending boxers to all AIBA and ASBC events in all age groups. Nepal registered record number of five female boxers to the upcoming ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships following their participation in Tashkent, in Bangkok and in Puerto Princesa.

– Could you please introduce your country’s boxing life?
– Nepal had taken part in the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games, all though the boxers were from Nepalese Soldiers from the British Army. This was our first time participation in the Olympic Games. Nepal became the member of the IOC only in 1963. Boxing is one of the popular sport in Nepal.
Nepal’s boxing performances in the international tournaments has not been the top but we have got some good results. We have got 5 bronze medals in Asia Games, 6 gold medals in the South Asian Games and one bronze medal in Asian Boxing Championships.
The 1980’s were our nation’s golden era in boxing when the best boxers like late Dal Bahadur Rana, Puskar Djoj Shahi, Prabin Tuladhar, Nar Bahadur Yonjan, Umesh Maskey and myself kept history in Nepal’s boxing. Later from that era our new boxing generation was Chitra Bahadur Gurung, Prakash Thapamagar, Ram Chandra Thapamagar and Asian Games bronze medallist Deepak Maharjan kept the nation’s pride high.
Nepal is one of small and mountain country in South Asia with one of lowest national GDP in the whole world. Nation’s investment in boxing counts very low and provides less facilities and equipments. Although with these limited facilities in our boxing life, Nepal’s performances were satisfactory.

– Would you like to tell us your strategic plans for the future and the key developments in your country?
– Since I became President of Nepal Boxing Association 15 months ago, we are focusing on the following long term projects:
1) School in Boxing
2) Envisioning boxing in new district and clubs
3) Talent hunt events for the junior, youth and elite boxers
4) To gain more experiences allowing boxers to participate in the international tournaments
5) Preferring foreign coach for the best training possibilities in Nepal
6) Working with the government and the international associations for the training facilities and better equipments
7) Development of good personal relationship with the global boxing family

– What are the main strengths and issues in your boxing life?
– Here are some of the main strengths and issues of boxing life in Nepal:
1) Naturally, we live in high altitude and in the mountains, therefore normally we are fit for any kind of sports.
2) Nepalese are with a Brave heart. They won’t back even there is tough ahead.
3) We have good advisers with our team.
4) We are anticipating different International support as well
5) We have high chances in Women’s boxing too in addition of Men’s Boxing.
6) This moment we are in search of new boxing coach, boxing equipments, IOC Solidarity course, and Heads up program from AIBA.