Pu Zoramthanga (boxer)
Encyclopedia
Pu Zoramthanga (b. 1963 in Falam
, Myanmar
- d. February 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.
He is not to be confused with his namesake, Pu Zoramthanga
, the politician and long time Chief Minister of Mizoram.
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 Cuba
n 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. 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 Lunglei
, Mizoram
on February 9, 2005. He was survived by his wife and three children.
Falam (town)
Falam is a town in north-western Burma near Burma's western border with the Indian state of Mizoram. The town was originally founded by the British in 1892, and became an important place for the British government to rule the whole Chin Hills at that time...
, Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
- d. February 9, 2005 in Aizawl
Aizawl
Aizawl is the capital of the state of Mizoram in India. With a resident population 228,280 , it is the largest city within the state. It is also the center of all important government offices, state assembly house and civil secretariat...
, Mizoram
Mizoram
Mizoram is one of the Seven Sister States in North Eastern India, sharing borders with the states of Tripura, Assam, Manipur and with the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Burma. Mizoram became the 23rd state of India on 20 February 1987. Its capital is Aizawl. Mizoram is located in the...
) was a Burmese Indian Chin
Chin people
The Chin , known as the Kuki in Assam, are one of the ethnic groups in Burma. The Chins are found mainly in western part of Burma and numbered circa 1.5 million. They also live in nearby Indian states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur and Assam. Owing to Mizo influence and Baptist missionaries'...
boxer
Amateur boxing
Amateur boxing is practised at the collegiate level, at the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, and in many other venues sponsored by amateur boxing associations. Amateur boxing bouts are short in duration and fighters wear head protection, so this type of competition prizes point-scoring rather...
, who is remembered as the first Indian to win a bronze medal at the 6th Boxing World Cup
Boxing World Cup
Boxing World Cup is an international boxing event which features boxers competing in different weight divisions, organized by the International Boxing Association.- History :...
in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
(then Bombay), 1990.
He is not to be confused with his namesake, Pu Zoramthanga
Pu Zoramthanga
Zoramthanga was the Chief Minister of Mizoram, India, from December 1998 to December 2008. His party, the Mizo National Front, lost the 2008 Assembly elections to the Indian National Congress. He tendered his resignation to Governor MM Lakhera on 8 December 2008 and left office 3 days later. He...
, the politician and long time Chief Minister of Mizoram.
Brief Biography
Zoramthanga was born Run Nawn to a ChinChin people
The Chin , known as the Kuki in Assam, are one of the ethnic groups in Burma. The Chins are found mainly in western part of Burma and numbered circa 1.5 million. They also live in nearby Indian states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur and Assam. Owing to Mizo influence and Baptist missionaries'...
family in Selawn village near the town of Falam
Falam (town)
Falam is a town in north-western Burma near Burma's western border with the Indian state of Mizoram. The town was originally founded by the British in 1892, and became an important place for the British government to rule the whole Chin Hills at that time...
in Chin State
Chin State
Chin State is a state located in western Burma . The Chin State is bordered by Rakhine State in the south, Bangladesh in south-west, Sagaing Division and Magway Division in the east, Indian state of Manipur in the north and Indian state of Mizoram in the west. The Chin ethnic group make up the...
, Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
. His family moved to Tithim village near Tahan-Kalaymyo
Kalaymyo
Kalaymyo , also known as Karlaymyo, is a town in the Sagaing Division of Burma. It is located upstream from Mandalay and Monywa on the Myittha River, a tributary of the Chindwin River. The town is the district headquarters of the Kalay District...
. He joined the Myanmar Army there, where he first took up boxing.
In a bid to further his career, Zoramthanga moved to Mizoram
Mizoram
Mizoram is one of the Seven Sister States in North Eastern India, sharing borders with the states of Tripura, Assam, Manipur and with the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Burma. Mizoram became the 23rd state of India on 20 February 1987. Its capital is Aizawl. Mizoram is located in the...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, 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
Mizoram
Mizoram is one of the Seven Sister States in North Eastern India, sharing borders with the states of Tripura, Assam, Manipur and with the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Burma. Mizoram became the 23rd state of India on 20 February 1987. Its capital is Aizawl. Mizoram is located in the...
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He fared well in the World Amateur Boxing Championships
World Amateur Boxing Championships
The World Amateur Boxing Championships is a biennial amateur boxing competition organised by the International Boxing Association , which is the sport governing body. Alongside the Olympic boxing programme, it is the highest level of competition for the sport...
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
in 1989, where he reached the quarter finals, before losing to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n boxer and eventual runners-up Rogelio Marcelo
Rogelio Marcelo
Rogelio Marcelo García is a retired boxer from Cuba, who competed in the light flyweight division during the early 1990s....
.
His greatest success was at the 6th Boxing World Cup
Boxing World Cup
Boxing World Cup is an international boxing event which features boxers competing in different weight divisions, organized by the International Boxing Association.- History :...
in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
in 1990, where he won a bronze medal in the Light Flyweight
Light flyweight
- Professional boxing :The weight limit at light flyweight in professional boxing is 108 pounds . When New York legalized boxing in 1920, the law stipulated a "junior flyweight" class, with a weight limit of 99 pounds. When the National Boxing Association was formed in 1921, it also recognized this...
category. He defeated Jin Yang of South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
on points in the preliminaries, and Paul Weir
Paul Weir (boxer)
Paul Weir is a Scottish professional boxer and a former WBO minimumweight champion.- Pro career :Undefeated WBO Minimun Weight Champion & Former WBO Lt.Flyweight Champion...
of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in the quarterfinals, also on points. He lost to eventual champion Eric Griffin
Eric Griffin (boxer)
Eric Griffin is a retired boxer from the USA, who competed in the light flyweight division during the early 1990s. He won at the 1991 world championships finals, beating Rogelio Marcelo....
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. This was India's first medal in an international boxing tournament outside the Asian Games.
Following the win, the Government of Mizoram
Government of Mizoram
The Government of Mizoram also known as the State Government of Mizoram, or locally as State Government, is the supreme governing authority of the Indian state of Mizoram and its 8 districts...
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
Hypertension
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a cardiac chronic medical condition in which the systemic arterial blood pressure is elevated. What that means is that the heart is having to work harder than it should to pump the blood around the body. Blood pressure involves two measurements, systolic and...
at the Lunglei Civil Hospital in Lunglei
Lunglei
Lunglei is a town, situated in the south-central part of Mizoram state, northeastern India. Lunglei, sometimes spelled Lungleh, literally meaning 'bridge of rock' got its name from a bridge like rock found in the riverine area around Nghasih - a small tributary of the river Tlawng...
, Mizoram
Mizoram
Mizoram is one of the Seven Sister States in North Eastern India, sharing borders with the states of Tripura, Assam, Manipur and with the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Burma. Mizoram became the 23rd state of India on 20 February 1987. Its capital is Aizawl. Mizoram is located in the...
on February 9, 2005. He was survived by his wife and three children.