The Hindu : Sport / Boxing : Tough task for boxers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 13, 2007
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Sport - Boxing

Tough task for boxers

Principal Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Three months from the crucial Olympics-qualifying World championship, Indian boxers are without a full-time coach.

The 11-member team that returned on Tuesday from the 24th Asian championship at Ulan Bator, Mongolia, after winning one silver and six bronze medals, virtually had no training schedule or sparring partners during the event.

The SAI coach accompanying the team was at a loss to arrange either a sparring partner or prepare a schedule for the pugilists during their stay in Mongolia.

"We have been demanding a full-time coach for long but the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) is yet to appoint one," Vijender, who won the silver in the 75kg category, said.

"I am confident of winning a berth for India in the next year's Olympics in Beijing, but I need a capable sparring partner and a coach to guide me," Vijender said.

Difficult situation

The IABF is in a difficult situation as regards to the coach as Mr. Venu has been unable to devote time due to personal reasons. "We have been talking to many, but nothing has yet been finalised," the IABF Secretary-General, Col. P.K. Murlidharan Raja, said.

The IABF has again gone back and requested the Cuban boxing expert, B.I. Fernandez, who had a long stint here. The Cuban federation is, however, not willing to release the coach.

But there is some ray of hope as the Mittal Champions Trust has lined up former Russian coach, Kanat K. Zhaxybayev of Kazakhstan, to train the Indian boxers.

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