Aruna Mishra with her daughter Meenakshi after winning gold at the recently concluded National Games. File picture

Jamshedpur, March 28: Motherhood has added the golden punch to city pugilist Aruna Mishra.

The 32-year-old toughie with the winning fisticuffs clinched yet another gold at the Second Inter-zonal National Boxing Championship at Guntur in Andhra Pradesh.

The boxer from Jharkhand Police and a former Asian champion, Aruna, however, gives most of the credit to three-year-old daughter Meenakshi.

“Yes, my daughter is my lucky mascot. She instilled in me more confidence and hope than ever before. In fact, I’ve become more rejuvenated after her birth three years ago,” she said, speaking about her toddler.

She may be right. In yesterday’s power-packed performance, Aruna, the reigning national champion, crushed the challenge of Haryana’s Mehak in 15 seconds flat to clinch the top slot in the light welter weight category.

The former world champion gave her opponent no chance whatsoever. Aruna was also adjudged the best boxer of the inter-zonal meet.

Maybe missing her daughter revved up her aggression. Meenakshi had stayed back with father Shishir, a service holder, in their Adityapur home was with her father while Aruna went to Andhra Pradesh.

Speaking to The Telegraph over phone from Vijaywada, Aruna said she was longing to meet Meenakshi. “I have not seen her for more than a week now. It is she who makes me extremely confident inside the ring. She’ll be there to receive me at Tatanagar station tomorrow,” she added.

Doubting Thomases had written her off when she tied the nuptial knot with Shishir. But she bounced back despite running into bad form after her marriage.

Earlier, she had bagged the senior nationals gold in January, followed by the one at the 34th National Games and yet another in the All India Police Boxing Meet in Jammu.

“I think Meenakshi’s birth turned the tide in my favour. I can’t explain it, but my daughter has given me the vigour to continue in this power sport,” Aruna said.

On how she manages to attend to her family commitments along with being a champion boxer, Aruna admits it is a tough job, but not one she can’t handle.

“Yes, it’s tough. But I am not alone in the family ring here. My husband is right beside me. We’re a team and his support is essential for my continuing success both as a professional boxer and as wife and mother. Touch wood,” Aruna said, and added that for a woman in this country to do well in sports, family support was a vital factor.

One of the most popular sportspersons in Jharkhand, she has already decided to give something back to the sport already.

Aruna has started a boxing coaching centre for aspiring pugilists on the compound of her coach Ernest Lakra’s residence in Birsanagar.

“This sport gave me everything so naturally, I wanted to do something to return the favour. I had plans to start a coaching centre for slum kids. The centre is prospering and I am hopeful of producing some international boxers. That’s my dream,” she said.

“Aruna has a big heart. She is no longer young, but her courage and experience help her to win bouts. She has the capability of defeating much younger pugilists. I’m very happy about her golden run and hope it will continue for a long time,” said her coach Lakra, also the coach of the state outfit during National Games.