The Hindu : Sport / Boxing : Coach Sandhu optimistic of an Olympic medal

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 28, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Boxing

Coach Sandhu optimistic of an Olympic medal

Special Correspondent

Akhil is undergoing treatment in
South Africa
The boxers will compete in the President’s Cup

NEW DELHI: National coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu expressed satisfaction about his boxers pulling out their best punches to bag three more Olympic quota places and remarked that all the five qualified boxers had the desire to win an Olympic medal.

“It is tough to say whether we can win a medal or two in Beijing. But, looking at the manner in which our boxers have qualified, and considering the desire that they all have to win an Olympic medal, we are attempting to provide them the best preparation and hope for the best,” said Sandhu, who returned with the team from the Asian qualification championship at Astana, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday night.

Making an honest admission that the expectation was about two more boxers joining A. Lakra and Akhil Kumar (who had made the grade earlier), Sandhu said that even four could have qualified from the meet in Kazakhstan.

Dilbagh misses out

“Actually, it could have been four, but Dilbagh Singh, leading by three points got a warning and eventually lost,” said Sandhu.

Vijender had qualified with a gold medal in the 75kg category, while Dinesh Kumar made the cut with a silver in the 81kg class.

Jitender Kumar won the bronze medal bout to take the qualification slot from the 51kg section.

The National coach’s optimism was understandable as Lakra had qualified from the World championship while Akhil Kumar had bagged the ‘best boxer’ award as well along with the qualification, by beating the Olympic silver medallist.

Incidentally, Akhil is getting treatment for a painful wrist in South Africa and should be back in the ring soon.

Gearing up

While Vijender, the best bet who had to wait till the last chance to confirm his berth, will get busy with the inter-Railway championship, the boxers are scheduled to assemble for a camp at Patiala on April 3.

“We plan to go to Cuba for training-cum-competition for about 20 days and then return to Shilaru for more training,” said Sandhu.

There will be another training-cum-competition stint in Europe. The boxers are also scheduled to compete in the President’s Cup in Chinese Taipei which will host a meet for the boxers who have qualified for the Olympics.

Expressing his whole-hearted gratitude and appreciation to his team of coaches, the commitment of the boxers, the support from the National federation and the Sports Authority of India (SAI), coach Sandhu assured that every effort would be made to nail an Olympic medal that had eluded the grasp of Gurcharan Singh narrowly in the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport