New Delhi: Don’t be surprised if you see the same face taking on to the opponents in two different weight categories at the boxing competitions starting from October 5. For, this will just be a case of mistaken identity, as they are two different individuals with an identical face, who will be representing Australia in boxing.
Meet the Moloney siblings – the 19-year-old identical twins, who will be exchanging punches for the medals in the 52 and 49 kg categories.
“It’s great fun to be here for the Commonwealth Games. It’s the first big event that we will be representing our country in. So this is in a way very special for us. It will provide us a platform to prepare for much bigger competitions,” says Jason Moloney, who will represent his country in 52 kg category.
But how come their parents allowed both of them to be in a sport deemed to be robust and dangerous? “No, it wasn’t like that. Our mother was quite apprehensive when we took on to this game as it’s always a bit risky with our chances of coming back home with a broken nose being on the higher side. But once we started winning medals, she was quite cool with it and we got the full support of our parents thereafter,” says Andrew, who will punch for glory in the 49-kg weight category, informing that boxing wasn’t their first choice.
“Though we have been into boxing since the last six years, it’s wasn’t our first choice.
It happened accidentally. Our first love was football. We started boxing because we wanted to keep ourselves fit for football. But soon we started enjoying hitting the punching bags and it became our passion,” adds Andrew.
“We could have pursed our career in football and made some good money in the years to come. But then there is nothing bigger than the pleasure of representing your country and win medals for your motherland. We take pride in it,” say the teenaged brothers, who have been loving the ambience ever since they landed in Delhi.
“The atmosphere is fantastic. We are loving our stay in the village. Though we haven’t got the taste of Indian cuisine as we need to maintain our weight till the competition, we are waiting to get it over. We also do hope to see the city around, but it will be possible only after our events get over,” the twins say.
Courtsey: Village News (Official Newspaper of Games Village)
