Date:02/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/02/stories/2008120250870200.htm

Other States - Orissa

14 pugilists from the State honoured

Staff Reporter

Photo: Lingaraj Panda

Show of strength: The State boxing team at Berhampur stadium on Monday. —

BERHAMPUR: The 14-member team from Orissa, which would participate in the national sub-junior men’s boxing championship, was honoured at a function held in the city on Monday.

The 24th national sub-junior men’s national boxing championship is scheduled to be held in Gangtok of Sikkim from Dec. 5 to 11. Most of the 14 young boxers selected for the national meet would be playing at national-level for the first time.

They were selected from the State-level boxing meet organised in the Berhampur stadium in August. Bisal Patel of Sundergarh district said he was satisfied with his preparations for the meet and was hopeful of getting a medal.

Abundance of players from Ganjam district in the team again proved that boxing continues to be a major sport in the area. Nine players in the team were from Ganjam district. They have undergone rigorous training under two major boxing coaches of the State, Sisir Panigrahy and K. Prabhakar Rao. Mr. Panigrahy said during recent past more youngsters are showing interested towards boxing. After the medal of Vijendar Singh in the Olympics the attraction towards boxing has increased, he said.