Until a few days before Commonwealth Games, Jadumani Singh wasn’t even sure he would board the flight to Glasgow.The uncertainty over his inclusion in India’s squad had left the Manipuri boxer under immense pressure. On Saturday, he answered those doubts by winning silver in the men’s 55kg category, becoming the first male boxer from Manipur to win a Commonwealth Games medal after 12 years.“For an athlete, nothing is more painful than training with complete dedication and then not knowing if you’ll even get the chance to compete. That creates tremendous mental pressure,” his coach Sarita Devi told TOI on Saturday.“He had gone through a similar situation earlier when he moved to the 55kg category from 50kg. There was uncertainty over whether he would be allowed to compete. This time, too, before Glasgow, he was under pressure because he didn’t know if he would get to compete.”While the medal was won inside the ring, the week in Glasgow was made easier by one familiar face outside the ropes. Weightlifter Rishikanta Singh, who won silver in the men’s 60kg event, spent much of his free time with Jadumani, keeping his fellow Manipuri’s spirits high amid the pressures of competition.Rishikanta had to leave Glasgow before Saturday’s boxing final but was overjoyed by his friend’s achievement. “I don’t see us as individual athletes, I see us as a team,” Rishikanta said before boarding his flight back home.Sarita said Jadumani’s run to the final was built as much on preparation as execution and she also helped out as much as possible despite being far away. That planning, however, was in stark contrast to the carefree persona Jadumani displayed inside the ring. His celebrations and playful gestures quickly became a talking point, but Sarita insists they were simply an extension of his personality.“That’s just his personality. Since childhood, he has been a very cheerful and playful person. He is always joking with people, and that naturally comes out in the ring as well. Sometimes it may look like he’s showing off, but that’s simply how he is,” she said.Long before Sarita was helping him decode opponents in Glasgow, Jadumani was just another energetic youngster training in the house of Chinglen Meitei in Imphal.Chinglen, who coached him for nearly two years, still remembers the first day the youngster walked in with his uncle. “The first thing I noticed was his courage. He wasn’t afraid of anyone,” Meitei said. “He was a mischievous boy and always ready for a fight. I felt if that energy was channelled in the right direction, he could become a very good boxer.”The former national-level boxer believes discipline, more than talent, has taken Jadumani this far.“Even today, before important bouts, he video calls me for advice. Before one of his fights in Glasgow, I suggested a few tactical changes and he followed them. That’s his biggest quality. Whenever a coach tells him something, he listens,” Chinglen added.Having watched the youngster rise from training in a modest neighbourhood setup to a Commonwealth Games podium, Chinglen said the achievement was deeply personal.Sarita, meanwhile, believes Glasgow is only the beginning. “He has improved tremendously and shown his commitment. But now he has to remain consistent. Many athletes do well initially but struggle to reach the Olympic level. I don’t want that to happen with him,” Sarita said.“Our target is the Asian Games and, ultimately, the Los Angeles Olympics. He is still young, he listens, works hard and has the courage to compete against anyone. I’ll continue to support him because our dream is to win an Olympic gold medal for India.”