Kolkata, Jul 4: A 20-year-old boxer who had represented Bengal in the Nationals died during practice on Wednesday afternoon. Rushed to hospital in an unconscious state, Jyoti Pradhan suffered a cardiac arrest before doctors could begin treatment. Her body has been sent for post-mortem. The West Bengal Amateur Boxing Federation (WBABF) has also sought a detailed report about the incident from Bhowanipore Boxing Association, the club she was practising at.
According to club members present, Pradhan had sparred with a partner in the ring and was later practising with a punching bag when she suddenly slumped around 4.30pm. After the trainers failed to revive her, they rushed her to SSKM Hospital. Doctors said she was breathing when they wheeled her into the emergency ward but suffered a cardiac arrest before they could begin treatment.
State minister Sovondeb Chattopadhyay, a boxer in his college days and president of the club, said the incident was unfortunate and bizarre as he had not heard of any deaths while boxing with a punching bag. "You can get injured while sparring with a partner. But with a bag, this has never happened," he said.
The boxing fraternity, too, expressed shock at the demise. "Pradhan was a very promising boxer. She had the potential to shine for India," said WBABF secretary Swapan Banerjee.
Pradhan was a student at Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri Law College in Kolkata and resided at Bhukailash Road in Kidderpore. Well-built and agile in the ring, Pradhan had made a name in boxing cirlces while still in school and had participated in the School Nationals. She had thereafter graduated to the senior level and represented the state in the 60kg category at the Nationals in Rohtak in 2018. She also won medals at the All India Boxing Classic six months ago.
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