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Wednesday, Dec 03, 2008
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Indian team upbeat

Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI: Though a bit short on training, the Indian team is upbeat about its chances in the coming boxing World Cup to be held in Moscow from December 10 to 14.

The two-month training stint at Patiala may not have been enough to prepare for such a big event, but Chief Coach G.S. Sandhu said the boxers are experienced enough to bag medals.

“Obviously, we cannot say that our preparation is the best. But post-Olympics, that will be the case with others as well. However, our boxers are experienced and they have the killer instinct to do well,” Sandhu said here on Tuesday, hours before the team’s departure for Moscow.

Jaidev Bisht, who will assist Sandhu, agrees. “Whatever be our preparation, one thing is sure — we are returning with medals. The difference between the Olympics and this event, in which top 88 boxers of the world will take part, is that we have seen our opponents and know about them,” he said.

India is fielding four of its five boxers who had taken part in the last Olympics and in the opinion of Sandhu, the athletes were encouraged by the reception, adulation and remuneration they got after their good showing in Beijing.

The Chief Coach said training to the venue a week in advance would help the boxers get acclimatised to the colder conditions before the event.

He, however, refused to rate the boxers. “I don’t believe in that. All of them — Akhil Kumar (54 kg), Jitender Kumar (51 kg), A.L. Lakra (57 kg) and Dinesh Kumar (81 kg) — have good chances of winning medals,” he said.

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