Singapore boxer Danisha Mathialagan sacrifices full-time job to focus on SEA Games medal hunt

SINGAPORE – Danisha Mathialagan thrust herself into the spotlight in 2023 when she became the first Singaporean boxer to qualify for the Asian Games since 1976. But the 27-year-old is hungry for more milestones.

In 2025, her sights are set on delivering a career-defining knockout: Winning a SEA Games medal in Thailand in December.

To give herself more than a fighting chance, Danisha has made a tough call outside the ring.

She was supposed to start a four-year bond with a local hospital after graduating with a degree in diagnostic radiography from the Singapore Institute of Technology last October, but she told The Straits Times that she has decided to break the bond.

This will mean having to pay back around $130,000 that had been provided as tuition fees and allowances over the last four years.

Danisha, who is currently working as a freelance embalmer, which gives her the flexibility to train twice a day, said: “If I work in a hospital, it would mean I won’t be able to box. Because I will have to work night shifts and it would be really hard to continue in this sport.

“Ultimately, I decided that since I saved most of the allowances and will be able to pay back the bond amount, I had to do this for myself. I am in the prime years of my boxing career and I will not be able to box in my 40s, so if I don’t continue now, then when?

“People may question it, but... I won’t be able to do this forever and I’d rather try and fail than to always live with regrets and a feeling of ‘what if’.”

Winning a SEA Games medal would feel especially sweet for Danisha, who has endured the heartbreak of missing the last two editions.

The Covid-19 pandemic meant she was not able to clock the minimum number of matches to qualify for the Hanoi Games in 2022, while her category (women’s light flyweight, 50kg) was not included in the 2023 edition in Cambodia.

But with more weight categories included for the 2025 Games, she looks set for her first appearance since her 2019 debut.

Danisha said: “There was a lot of crying the last two times when it was confirmed that I would not be competing. Every Singaporean athlete wants to go and do well at the SEA Games and it was tough to not have that chance. It was devastating.

“But I think looking ahead to this year’s edition, it makes me even more motivated to make sure that the wait will be worth it.”

To give herself a higher chance of winning a medal, she will be dropping to the minimum weight (48kg) category.

While the Singapore National Olympic Council will have the final say on athletes representing the Republic in Thailand, Danisha will be looking to put herself in a strong position with her performances in local and overseas competitions.

At the annual National Boxing Championships at Bedok Sports Hall on Jan 12, she claimed a convincing victory over Nur Eiffah Samat in the 48kg final, with the referee stopping the bout in the second round.

Since her Asiad debut in Hangzhou ended in a last-16 exit, she has continued to do well.

At the World Boxing Cup: Ulaanbaatar 2024 in Mongolia last September, she became the first Singaporean to secure a podium spot at the event by clinching a silver in the 50kg category, after losing to Japan’s Rinka Kinoshita in the final.

Two months later at the World Boxing Cup Finals 2024 at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, Danisha secured a surprise last-16 win over Italy’s Francesca Ricci before a quarter-final exit.

Danisha’s coach, three-time SEA Games bronze medallist Muhamad Ridhwan, is confident that his protege will end another long drought in Singapore boxing come December.

Ridhwan said: “She has proven herself on the international stage in recent times against boxers from stronger countries like Italy, Tajikistan, Mongolia and even boxers from Japan are noticing her when we go to overseas tournaments.

“I believe she will bring back the (SEA Games) gold after a long time.”

Singapore’s last boxing gold was secured by Mohamed Mukhlis in men’s U-67kg category in 1985.

Singapore Boxing Federation (SBF) president Fairuz Mohamed said that Danisha will be given more exposure in overseas competitions, with a training camp in Japan scheduled before the SEA Games.

He added that the SBF is hoping to stage up to 10 events in 2025 to blood more local talent and give national athletes match experience.

Looking ahead to the year-end Games, Fairuz believes that Singapore’s boxers can equal or better their showing at the 2023 edition, where they won three bronzes in the sport.

“We have identified a few athletes for the Games,” he added. “Realistically, I think we can get three to four medals and Danisha has the potential to bring back the first boxing gold medal in 40 years.”