Jaya, Serena: Future poster girls for Sikh and women’s boxing

Jaya Kalsi (left) and Serena Mali…tipped for a glittering future

I’M uncomfortable about placing pressure on the shoulders of very young boxers, but feel safe in saying Leamington has something special in Jaya Kalsi and Serena Mali.

The major titles won by both 14-year-olds proves that. Fighting out of Edwin Cleary’s gym, the pair can become poster girls for both women’s boxing and sport in the Sikh community.

This week Jaya was informed she’ll represent England in the European Junior Championships, held in Bosnia from June 21 to July 3.

That news was something of a “given”. Jaya is the reigning English and British champ at 48 kilos. She also took gold in the European schools titles last year, while Serena had to settle for bronze.

Serena has collected national and international honours, but was controversially beaten in the semi-finals of this year’s English championships at 46 kilos. Cleary still seethes over the costly point Serena was docked for holding.

Word is spreading about boxing’s Golden Girls. The BBC recently visited Cleary’s sweat-shop as part of a documentary on Sikhs in the sport. “Sikh Boxing Warriors” will be aired on iPlayer on May 1.

Jaya and Edwin Cleary celebrate another major title

Coach Edwin was a pro product of Brendan Ingle’s famed Sheffield gym and the teenagers have adopted the Ingle loose, switch-hitting style.

Cleary is lavish in his praise for Jaya and Serena, once telling me: “Every so often a Tiger Woods and a Serena Williams comes along, and I think they’re like that. I think they can pitch the female sport to another level.”

Those are very big names to live up to.

Flyer for the forthcoming documentary featuring the girls

This week he told me: “They are both sensational and will go on to be great boxers. They have ambitions and they really want to go into the pro game. I’ve told them to stay in the amateurs as long as they possible can unless someone makes an unbelievable offer.

“That’s because with women’s (pro) boxing, they could find themselves fighting for a title after two fights without the experience.

“I think they will have massive cross-over appeal when they turn over. They want to push the boundaries of women’s boxing and promote Sikhism in sport.

Powerful statements by Cleary, but he’s not alone in predicting a glittering future for Jaya and Serena.

Time will tell whether the town that produced Randolph Turpin has unearthed two more boxing superstars – of a different gender, of a different culture.