In Chintadripet, a boxing club gives underprivileged kids a fighting chance

Discover the inspiring story of SM Durga Sri, a young boxer aiming for success and social mobility through hard work.

On the morning of her second-semester exam, 18-year-old S.M. Durga Sri is hard at work, punching away at the bags at GS Boxing Club in Chintadripet. When asked if she’s worried about the exam, she replies with a smile, “Not really. I can manage.”

Ms. Durga, a gold medallist at the 5th Junior Girls National Boxing Championship in 2022 and a bronze medallist at Khelo India 2024, is one of many young athletes at GS Boxing Club, led by a former railway loadman turned boxing coach. This club is dedicated to helping children from North Chennai rise socially and economically through boxing, hard work, and perseverance.

Ms. Durga got into boxing by chance, initially seeking fitness while her younger brother was interested in the sport. She says, “At first, it was tough, but we are a middle-class family, and boxing is one way to secure a good government job. Now, I love the sport and look forward to winning more medals.” Currently pursuing a B.Com degree at a private city college, Ms. Durga has been selected by the Sports Authority of India to compete in international contests, and she trains in Haryana. 

Around 35 students train at the club, which is on the first floor of the Greater Chennai Corporation’s gym in Chintadripet, twice a day — three hours in the morning and three in the evening. One key rule is that children must attend school.

The boxing club was founded by U. Govindaraj, a boxer certified by the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports. Initially, the club began as an informal training facility for local kids in Cox Colony, Chintadripet. However, the space was later repurposed for housing, and with the help of local government representatives, the current gym location was secured.

Mr. Govindaraj, passionate about using boxing to uplift local children, recalls his own childhood. “My father was a boxer but succumbed to alcoholism and passed away at just 32. I was only five at the time. Despite my interest in boxing, my mother forbade me from learning, but I secretly trained. It was only when I won a state-level gold medal that I showed my mother a newspaper clipping and revealed I’d been training.”

Eventually, family responsibilities led him to a job as a loadman with the Railways through the sports quota. During this time, Mr. Govindaraj started the GS Boxing Club to help local kids. He also hosts a free summer camp each year to introduce more children to the sport.