Date:21/01/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/01/21/stories/2003012101832200.htm

Sport - Boxing

National sub-junior meet from Jan. 24

KOLKATA JAN. 20. The National sub-junior boxing championship will be held at Howrah and Kolkata from January 24 to 28. As many as 39 States and units affiliated to the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) have confirmed participation in the five-day meet.

So far 17 States have sent in entries for the meet confined to under-17 boys. The Bengal Amateur Boxing Federation (BABF) expects about 400 pugilists to assemble here to compete in 40 weight categories. Each State or unit can field boxers in only 12 weight classes.

For the first time the National will be held at more than one venue, with the preliminary bouts at the Howrah Corporation ground on January 24 and 25 and the action shifting to nearby Shibpur for the quarterfinals and semifinals in the next two days before the finals at the School of Physical Culture, Kalighat, Kolkata.

Asit Banerjee, one of the vice-presidents of the IABF and president of the BABF, said on Monday that about 200 talented boys would be spotted from this meet for four preparatory camps planned by the National body. The group would be pruned to 35 to 40 to form three Indian teams. These teams, according to the plan drawn up by the IABF, would be sent to Cuba and other places for training-cum-competition. — Our Special Correspondent