Desi Today Magazine
By Surbhi Gogia
Eric’s story is an inspiring example of what South Asian kids can achieve if their energy is invested in sports from the early age
Eric Basran, an 18 year BC champion and two time silver medalist from Surrey recently returned home from the 2017 BC Golden Gloves Championship in Mission with more hardware to add to his trophy cases. Representing Queensborough boxing club, Eric defeated Ely Avelar-Martinez of Maple Ridge Boxing club in the 132-lb (60 KG) division final. However, it was not his first victory of the year. He came home with a gold at the 2017 Oregon Golden Gloves boxing tournament held in January 21-22 in Redmond, Oregon.
Though the winners of the Oregon tournament advance to the Golden Gloves national championships in LasVegas, Eric is Canadian and is not eligible. He is gearing up for gold at this year’sCanadian Boxing Championships from April 24-30 in Quebec City, Quebec.
His life story is an inspiring example of what South Asian kids can achieve, if their energy is invested in sports from the early age. Since his childhood, his parents knew he was full of energy. His father decided to puthim in martial arts and self defence. “We noticed that Eric excelled in his training. As he grew up he wanted to enter Mixed martial arts (MMA) formally. But he was too young to compete in that style, so he entered amateur boxing competitions at the age of 11 and since then there is no looking back,” says Eric’s mother Vicky Basran.
Till now he has 27 fights under his name. He says the most memorable is the one when he was only 16 years old and defeated Canadian champion and world medalist Thomas Blumenfeld in 15th Annual Ringside World Championships boxing tournament held in Kansas city, Missouri.The tournament featured 1,900 boxers from age group eight to 40. Basran fought in the 17-18-year-old, 114 pound (52 kg) open category.
“He has tremendous long reach, good boxing eyes and an innate sense of range and he hits like a mule,” his coach Jerry Veerasammy quoted in 2015. “He is gifted and very hard working. Talent can take you to the top but like every athlete, lifestyle will determines Eric’s path, so it’s all up to him how far he goes,” said the coach.
Eric’s has not let his coach down. He has not only maintained his winning streak but has also evolved in his technique over the years.”When I started boxingI would just go to the cluband train.I never used to remember how I fought. But as I gained more experience, I calmed down and approach the opponent slowly. In first rounds I usually go slow. I watch and try to read the other player’s moves. I start picking up speed in the second and third round and finally attack in the last few minutes,” says Eric.
Eric says that following a sport is very important for any individual. “It has taught me many life skills. I learned respect and discipline. I cannot eat unhealthy, I get up at five o clock in the morning for my training and work out.” Eric says if it was not for sports he would not have come this far.
This young champions next goal is to try for the national boxing team which will give him advance training and opportunity to hopefully go to the 2020 Olympics. Currently, Eric is also pursuing Criminology from Douglas college.
