New Delhi, August 13: Usha Negisetty is recognized as one of India’s prominent female boxers. Breaking societal barriers, Usha carved a niche for herself in the sport and brought glory to the nation on a global scale. She has played a significant role in inspiring women to engage in boxing.
Born on August 13, 1984, in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, Usha was influenced by her father, N.V. Ramana, a national-level boxer. Watching him in the ring sparked her interest in the sport. By the age of 16, Usha decided to pursue a career in boxing and never looked back. She honed her skills under the guidance of I. Venkateshwara Rao, a coach honored with the Dronacharya Award.
Between 2004 and 2010, Usha became a six-time national champion, securing multiple gold medals. Her prowess was also evident at the Asian Championships, where she clinched a gold medal. Additionally, she earned a silver medal at the World Women’s Boxing Championship. Usha’s remarkable performance at the Indo-European Invitational Cup in Denmark in 2009 led her to another gold medal victory.
However, Usha’s promising career faced a significant setback in 2012 when injuries to her knee and neck prevented her from participating in the Olympics. After retiring as an athlete, she served as a coach for the Indian senior women’s boxing team from 2013 to 2017. In recognition of her substantial contributions to the sport, Usha received the Dhyan Chand Award in 2020, becoming the first athlete in boxing from India to be honored with this award. Throughout her boxing career, she amassed 13 gold, 5 silver, and 5 bronze medals.
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