With 12 days remaining until the start of the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games boxing competition, Boxing Canada would like to introduce you to National Boxing Team athlete Garinder (Gary) Takhar. Gary, who is representing Canada in the female 60kg weight division and boxes out of Knockout Boxing in her hometown of Brampton, Ontario.

Gary’s all-time favorite boxer is Muhammad Ali because “he talked a big game and always backed it up. He’s the GOAT; whether you loved or hated him, you had to respect him.” Gary is most proud of winning national championships in two different weight classes: 60kg and 63 kg. 

Aside from boxing, Gary is also trained as a lifeguard, enjoys swimming and walking her dog Prince and loves cookie dough ice cream. When asked what color best describes her personality, Gary clearly said it is red “because I’m decisive, assertive, driven, and focused on my goals.”

Gary appreciates coaching feedback and constructive criticism and uses these to fuel improvement. This explains why her favorite movie, The Karate Kid “because it tells you to practice the fundamentals and not worry about the fancy stuff. Every time you get knocked down; you get back up. Most importantly, it shows us that life will knock you down a lot.” Gary is continually improving. When asked if there was one boxing skill she wanted to improve significantly, she noted that “throwing combinations” would be that single thing.

We look forward to seeing Gary in the ring at the 2023 Pan American Games and leave you with Gary’s thoughts on the most important thing Canada’s National Team athletes should remember: “to never give up and keep thriving”. Good Luck, Gary! 

Posted on: October 7, 2023