Box on

In school, there was quite a regimental hierarchy on the status associated with certain sports. While some sports gave you recognition as a gentleman and as a team player like cricket, others gave you a sheen of raw power like boxing. Boys who were on the school or house boxing teams were always looked upon with quite a bit of awe, whether it was just due to the fear of being punched one in the face if you didn't watch it or from technical prowess.

The tools of the trade were highly prized and flaunted, especially boxing gloves. Our gymnasium in school, Gaskell Hall even has a tribute of sorts to the sport of becoming a man, by Rudyard Kipling, who said in Kim: "Send him to Sanawar and make a man of him".