Hyderabad:
The death of a young, promising boxer in Hyderabad after consuming poison has drawn attention to the stress athletes' face while being driven to outperform. The failure to cope with either loss or setbacks has important lessons that coaching sportspersons needs to encompass not just physical tasks, but mental toughness as well.
Amaravathi reportedly died after consuming poison at Hyderabad's Lal Bahadur Stadium on Wednesday. The 21-year-old boxer won the bronze medal at the boxing nationals in 2006-07 and was training at the Centre of Excellence for the last three years. Her family is pointing fingers at her coach.
Saikumar, Amaravati's brother said: "Due to harassment from her coach Omkar Yadav, she committed suicide. He would say 'you are not winning'. He asked her to leave the centre. He told my brother once to marry her off'.''
The authorities say Amaravathi had never complained against her coach nor had given any indication that something was wrong.
Commenting on the incident, officer in-charge of athletes G.A Shobha said: "Her target was only to achieve something. Except her boxing, she had nothing to do with anything else."
The government has ordered an inquiry into the incident.
The Sports Minister of Andhra Pradesh, KVenkat Reddy, said, "Yesterday she had food both from inside the campus and brought from outside also. She vomitted in the room. After police inquiry, we will know the exact position.''
Boxers are known to be combative, who know to fight their way out of a losing position. Amaravathi unfortunately did not exhibit that boxer's instinct when she needed it the most, in real life.