Indian boxing has been going through some exciting times recently. Thanks to consistent performances, our boxers are going places, literally.
Prior to the national championships in July, a selected group of boxers is being sent to the UK, Kazakhstan and Russia. While a team of around 15 boxers will head for the British Isles next month for training-cum-competition, another bunch will be participating in a $4,000 competition in Kazakhstan.
No wonder World No.1 (light heavyweight 75 kg category) Vijender Singh is excited. “Our recent trip to China (Super Cup) taught us a lot about Asian boxers. The UK trip will now help us study our European opponents better,” the Olympic bronze medallist told DNA.
With an eye on the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, the Indian Boxing Federation is making sure that India’s rise as a boxing nation is maintained.
National boxing coach GS Sandhu is understandably optimistic. “With new and better spiring partners, we would get to learn a lot more about the different techniques others would employ in CWG,” explained Sandhu. He maintained that his boys will face some stiff competition from the English boxers. A good show in the UK will, in turn, give India a strong chance in CWG.
Meanwhile, bantamweight boxer Jitender Kumar (56kg) is off to Kazakhstan. “We came across many tougher boxers during the Cuba trip and we are expecting similar competition in Kazakhstan. The prize money is also good,” said Jitender, who is now in Patiala for the national camp. Jitender is likely to be accompanied by Amandeep Singh (48kg), Dinesh Kumar (81kg), Jai Bhagwan (60kg).
Such has been India’s rise in the world of boxing that not only are athletes being sent abroad for training, but various countries now want to send their boxers to India for the same.
“We are now an established boxing nation and Indian boxers are known to be good spiring partners. Therefore, countries like Mauritius and Sri Lanka have sent their teams here for training. Even England and Australia want to send their teams here prior to CWG,” explained Sandhu.
