The Hindu : Sport / Boxing : Indian team for Olympic qualification tournament

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Thursday, Jan 24, 2008
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Indian team for Olympic qualification tournament

Principal Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Commonwealth Games gold medallist Akhil Kumar’s return to action has raised India’s hopes of striking a few more Olympic quota berths at the first Asian Olympic qualifying boxing tournament to be held in Bangkok from January 25 to February 2.

Akhil Kumar (54kg) missed most of the action in the later part of 2007 after he injured his wrist following his bronze medal performance at the Asian championship in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, in June. The bantamweight pugilist will spearhead the Indian challenge as the nine-member team reached the Thai capital after a nine-day training camp outside Bangkok.

The gold and silver medal winners in the top eight weight categories will earn the Olympic quota while only the gold medallist of 91kg class will qualify for the Beijing Olympics. Featherweight pugilist A.L. Lakra is so far the lone Olympic quota holder from India. Lakra clinched the berth to Beijing when he reached the quarterfinals in the World championship in Chicago last November.

The team:

Amandeep (48kg), Jitender Kumar (51kg), Akhil Kumar (54kg), Diwakar Prasad (60kg), Manoj Kumar (64kg), Dilbag Singh (69kg), Vijender (75kg), Dinesh Kumar (81kg), Manpreet Singh (91kg).

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