Pu Zoramthanga (boxer)

"For the article about the Mizoram politician, see Pu Zoramthanga."

Infobox person
name = Pu Zoramthanga
birth_date = 1963
death_date = Death date|2005|2|9
birth_place = Falam, Chin State, Myanmar
death_place = Aizawl, Mizoram, India
nationality = Indian flagicon|India
citizenship = Indian
occupation = Boxer Light Flyweight

Pu Zoramthanga (also known as Zoram Thanga , T. Zoramthanga originally named Run Nawn) (b. 1963 [ [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050210/asp/sports/story_4360162.asp The Telegraph: Indian boxer passes away] ] in Falam, Myanmar - d. Feb 9, 2005 in Aizawl, Mizoram) was a Burmese Indian Chin boxer, who is remembered as the first Indian to win a bronze medal at the 6th Boxing World Cup in Mumbai (then Bombay), 1990. [ [http://www.neportal.org/northeastfiles/Mizoram/Political/Speech/1991.asp Speech by Governor of Mizoram to 2nd Mizoram State Legislative Assembly, March 16, 1991] ]

He is not to be confused with his namesake, Pu Zoramthanga, the politician and long time Chief Minister of Mizoram.

Brief Biography [ [http://www.chinlandguardian.com/index.php/2005_news_report/the_great_chin_boxer The Chinland guardian: The great Chin boxer Zoramthanga passed away] ] [ [http://www.hinduonnet.com/2005/02/10/stories/2005021003441500.htm The Hindu: Zoramthanga passes away] ]

Zoramthanga was born "Run Nawn" to a Chin family in Selawn village near the town of Falam in Chin State, Myanmar. His family moved to Tithim village near Tahan-Kalaymyo. He joined the Myanmar Army there, where he first took up boxing.

In a bid to further his career, Zoramthanga moved to Mizoram in India, changing his name and jumpstarting his boxing career in 1985. He won a gold medal at the "Mizoram-Myanmar Champhai Border Championships" in his weight category the same year.

Zoramthanga participated in several national and international boxing championships for Mizoram and India. He fared well in the World Amateur Boxing Championships in Moscow in 1989, where he reached the quarter finals, before losing to Cuban boxer and eventual runners-up Rogelio Marcelo.

His greatest success was at the 6th Boxing World Cup in Mumbai in 1990, where he won a bronze medal in the Light Flyweight category. He defeated "Jin Yang" of South Korea on points in the preliminaries, and Paul Weir of Scotland in the quarterfinals, also on points. He lost to eventual champion Eric Griffin of USA in the semi-finals on points. However, unlike most amateur boxing tournaments, the Boxing World Cup had a third place play-off to decide the bronze medal position. Zoramthanga defeated fellow Indian boxer Dhamendar Yadav 17-4 on points to clinch the bronze medal. [ [http://www.amateur-boxing.strefa.pl/Championships/WorldCup1990_3.html Amateur boxing records] ] This was India's first medal in an international boxing tournament outside the Asian Games.

Following the win, the Government of Mizoram made him the Sports Promotion Officer of the state. He retired from boxing in 1992. He held the post of Sports Promotion Officer until he died abruptly of hypertension at the "Lunglei Civil Hospital" in Aizawl, Mizoram on Feb 9, 2005. He was survived by his wife and three children.

References