While we speak about modern-day Indian boxers like Amit Panghal, Vikas Krishnan, Lovlina Borgohain and Manish Kaushik, we seldom remember Rohit Tokas. However, fans who follow boxing religiously in India, know that if not for unfortunate injuries that plagued Tokas’ career, India might have had an undisputed boxing champion in its tournament lineups.

While Vijender Singh and co made the sport popular in India and Mary Kom helped to grow it even more, the majority of Indians have little to no idea about one of the best India has in Rohit Tokas. The 29-year-old has often been dubbed as generational but has failed to prove his worth to the biggest stages often, owing to career-threatening injuries. However, he is on the cusp of securing a medal for India at the Commonwealth Games 2022 and it’s time to find out who the boxer is and how his career has revolved till now.

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Born on August 1, 1993, in Munirka, New Delhi to Preet Singh Tokas and Anita Tokas, Rohit also has an elder brother named Mohit Tokas. When Rohit was only seven, he began his boxing training in Munirka Boxing Academy under Rajesh Tokas. While most athletes pick up a particular sport because they grow interested in it, it was a bully at school, who forced him to begin training. However, another reason for Rohit and his brother Mohit to begin boxing training was because of boxing films, which inspired them to take up the sport.

Rohit Tokas completed his education at the Delhi University and works for the Indian Railways currently.

Soon after beginning his boxing career, Rohit won the gold medal in the Youth Men National Boxing Championships. He continued his success at the Cuban Youth Olympics in 2011, where he won the silver medal.

A year later, he won the bronze medal in the 1st Dr BR Ambedkar All India Men Boxing Tournament. Soon after, he won the gold medal in the All-India Inter University Games. A bronze medal at the King’s Cup in Thailand followed in 2015 when he began to be noticed by many. 

Rohit won a silver medal at the 1st Elite Men’s National Boxing Championships in 2016. He went back to the King’s Cup in Thailand in 2017, where he claimed another bronze medal. He replicated his performance at the India Open in New Delhi in 2018, winning a bronze. After a five-year wait, he once again bagged a gold medal, which he won at the Elite Men’s National Championships in 2018. He continued to display his best self at the 2019 Makran Cup in Iran, winning the bronze medal.

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However, he missed his chance in between to participate in the World Championship and the Tokyo Olympics, despite qualifying for both. After picking up a ligament and another right knee injury in 2018, he was advised by his doctor to rest, otherwise, he will have to quit the sport entirely.

Rohit defeated Asian Championships silver medal winner Ashish Kumar in the quarterfinal of the Elite Men’s National Boxing Championship, which remains one of the highlights of his career.