Represented india at the barcelona olympics92.He was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1995. He was also adjudged the "Best of Indian Railways" in 1995. The plight of young boxers continues to strike a chord with him. Rain or shine Deva is out there at the Nehru Stadium every evening to train youngsters who would otherwise be struggling to learn the lessons of boxing. The big-hearted Arjuna awardee doesn’t charge a penny from his charges. He knows well that boxing is a working-class sport. More importantly, Deva is not out there to make money. His love for boxing is deep. He gives his all for its promotion. From talking up his trainee G. Senthilnathan to rejoicing at Vijender Singh’s success at the 2008 Olympics and the 2009 World Championship, Deva’s passion for the punching game shines through.
