Date:03/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/03/stories/2006080307292000.htm

Sport - Boxing

India hoping for a couple of medals

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The seven-member Indian team hopes to return with at least a couple of medals from the AIBA World cadet boxing championship to be held in Istanbul, Turkey, from August 4 to 14.

Speaking to mediapersons on the eve of the team's departure on Wednesday, coach M.S. Dhaka pointed at Sunil Kumar, a quarterfinalist of the last edition, as the possible medal winner in the 50-kg class. "At this level, not much is known about the strength of the field. We can expect a traditional powerhouse like Cuba, for instance, to send a strong squad. I think our boys are well prepared and raring to go."

Candid

Former National coach O.P. Bharadwaj, one of the three experts drafted into the seven-member selection committee, was candid in stating that some of the boys did lack strength, at present, but had it in them to serve the nation in times to come. "It is fair to expect two or three medals from this bunch," he said.

The boxers trained at Hissar for about 40 days, including three weeks with the former Turkish National coach Sefa Nar. His services form part of the support lent by Mittal Champions Trust Sports Foundation to the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF).

World women boxing

Meanwhile, the IABF secretary P.K. Muralidharan Raja announced that the World Women boxing championship would be held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here from November 17 to 24.

"We had to shift the championship from Hyderabad at the request of several participating countries. The request was to hold the event in the Capital as it meant less travelling cost to the visiting teams," said Col. Raja who went on to state that the Director General of the Sports Authority of India R.P. Watal had assured the IABF of the availability of the Indira Gandhi Stadium for the event. The alternate venue is NDMC Indoor Stadium.

Col. Raja also said that India would bid to host the World championship as well as the Commonwealth championship in 2009.

Squad for World cadet meet: Prem Prakash Pouri (46-kg), Bhoopender (48-kg), Sunil Kumar (50-kg), Roshan Singh (52-kg), Durga Rao (54-kg), Balwinder Singh (57-kg) and Amit Karki (60-kg). Coaches: M. S. Dhaka and Praline Kumar; Judge: Lenny D'Gama; Manager: Prithivi Raj Chauhan.