Bute a step away from entering international coaching circuit

NAGPUR: On any given day, one can see Arun Bute at the Divisional Sports Complex, Mankapur, sweating it out to produce next generation of boxers. It has been more than two-and-half decades now that Bute has been training boxers in different part of Maharashtra day in and day out.
Finally, he has managed to strike the target he always aimed for. On Monday, Bute’s application for The International Boxing Association (AIBA) 1-Star Coach Certification course was accepted.With this he is a step away to becoming the first boxing coach from the region to get into the elite field.
The 55-year-old from Nagpur is among the 50 coaches from India selected for the certification program. The participants will go through the course between June 16 and 22 including an exam at National Boxing Academy, Rohtak. This certification would make the selected coaches eligible to work in AIBA international competitions.
The AIBA is promoting such programs across the world for ensuring the global standards in coaching. Bute is happy that he has made it. He is also confident of clearing the qualification mark. “I was expecting the call,” Bute said while talking to TOI on Monday.
“I am happy with the development. I am confident of making it to the final list which will enable me to become an international coach,” cheerful Bute added.
Bute, who has worked in Gadchiroli and Bhandara before landing in Nagpur around 1.5 years before. To his credit, Bute has produced 14-15 national-level boxers, including Alfiya Khan Pathan, in such small timespan.
He feels the training session under AIBA coaches in Rohtak will help him a lot. “The 7-day training program will help me in learning new techniques used in international boxing. This will definitely benefit the boxers in Nagpur,” Bute, who has trained boxers for Youth Girls World Championship in 2010 and 2011, said.
The lanky boxing coach has been instrumental in maintaining boxing standard in city ever since the transfer of Ganesh Purohit, the head coach. Bute, who is training around 200 boxers, is as eager to reach the international arena and so are his pupils.
“I hope everything will go smooth in Rohtak. Though I am positive about the outcome, I can’t take anything for granted. My focus is on staying fit and learning as much as I can to help the boxers under me,” he said.