Jagdish Singh is an Indian boxer and a boxing coach from Bhiwani district of the Indian state of Haryana. He founded the Bhiwani Boxing Club (BBC) in 2001, which produced four members of the five member boxing team in Beijing Olympics 2008, including the bronze medal winner, Vijender Kumar.[1][2]
The credit for turning Bhiwani into an elite boxing center largely goes to an intrepid Sports Authority of India coach Jagdish Singh, who has been at the center since 1996.[1] He was awarded India's highest honour for sports coaching, the 2007 Dronacharya Award.[3]
A former national boxer, Jagdish has produced boxers like a factory, in a country of cricket crazy people. He is known for his unconventional training methods. Due to his no-compromise attitude, politics in committee kept him away from Beijing and from his quartet (Akhil, Jeetendar, Dinesh and Vijender). More than 1000's have graduated from his academy and have won nearly 161 medals at international arena and 312 national medals ranging in different competitions from world championship to Olympics. Currently there are 135 odd being trained. Boxers are encouraged to fight without chin guards, thus making them tough and skillful. Mittal Champions trust is also funding the boxers at his center for sometime now.
In 2001, Singh established the 'Bhiwani Boxing Club' withdrawing his provident fund, mortgaging his home and land to obtain loan of 4 lakhs from Gramin bank. BBC has a 25 metre track, a multi-utility gym, three punching bags and a mobile boxing ring.[4] A very ordinary facility of its kind, but the sheer determination and dedication from every one involved is what has made the academy the best in the country. Earlier Singh used to go talent-hunting during school competitions, now aspirants from all over the country come here seeking admission. One has to show improvement in 2–4 months to remain in the academy. Aspirants are judged by their will power, motor-ability and co-ordination. Training is for 5 days in a week and it starts early in the morning and ends only after sunsets.
In the 2004 Athens Olympics, 3 out of the 4 qualifiers were from Bhiwani. Due to its stupendous record of producing competent boxers, Bhiwani is now being called the 'Cuba of India',[5] with more than 1/10 of the kids in the district trying their hand at boxing. Jagdish received the 2007 Dronacharya Award (highest award conferred on coaches in India) from the Government of India on August 29, 2008; which he had threatened not to receive if none of his quartet went on to win a medal at the Beijing Olympics.
Out of the five Indian boxers in 2008 Beijing Olympics, four have come out of his academy Bhiwani Boxing Club (BBC) in Bhiwani, Haryana established in 2001. His wards include the three Indian boxers who have qualified for the quarterfinals at Beijing, viz., Akhil Kumar, Jitender Kumar and lastly Vijender Kumar, who eventually won a bronze medal at Beijing Olympics, India's first Boxing medal in the Olympic Games.[6][7][8]