Beijing Olympics quarterfinalist Jitender Kumar and former women’s world champion Lekha K.C. are among the three pugilists recommended by the Indian Boxing Federation for this year’s Arjuna awards.
N. Usha is the third boxer recommended by the IBF for the awards which would be given away on the August 29 — the National Sports Day.
While Lekha clinched the middle weight gold in the 2006 edition of the World Championship held here, Usha has been a two-time silver medallist in the same event.
“All three of them have performed well in the past three years and we thought they are the best contenders from boxing for the Arjuna award,” Indian Boxing Federation Director A.S. Dagar told PTI .
Both Lekha and Usha had been recommended last year as well but Jitender‘s name has been nominated for the first time.
“It is a huge honour for me to be recommended for this award. I hope I get it,” said Jitender, a two-time Asian Championship bronze medallist, who created quite a flutter at the 2008 Beijing Olympics by fighting his quarterfinal bout with 10 stitches on his chin.
The 22-year-old Haryana boxer was also a bronze medallist in the 2008 World Cup held just a few months after the Olympics.
