New Delhi: India’s Reigning Junior World Boxing Champion Lalenkawali (48kg) will spearhead the Indian attack at the “Golden Glove of Vojvodina”, an international youth women’s boxing tournament in Serbia. The women’s team left New Delhi for Serbia, on Thursday (5 July 2012), to partake in the competition which will be held from 6th July – 9thJuly 2012 at Novi Sad, the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina.
The ten member team will be accompanied by four coaches, one doctor and a physiotherapist. The inaugural edition of the youth women’s event will feature almost 60 boxers from India, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Sweden, Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic, Bosnia, Croatia and hosts Serbia.
Chief Coach of the Indian Junior Women’s team, IV Rao believes the tournament will offer good competition and said, “This tour is a part of our long term development plan for the youth women’s boxing team and will help in our preparations for mega events, like the Youth Asian (slated to be held in December 2012) and Youth World Women’s Championships”. He added, “These international tours are instrumental in the overall development of a boxer. For some of the girls this will be their first international tournament and will give them an opportunity to expand their horizons.”
The Dronacharya Awardee was confident of a good showing at the international meet and added, “We have a few medal prospects in the team and I am sure we will return with favourable results. Winning is always a big confidence boost for an athlete, but more than the medals I am hoping for the girls to learn from this experience”.
Lalenkawali, a multiple Junior National gold medallist is keenly looking forward to the opportunity. The 17 year old from Mizoram said, “We have been training hard at the National Camp for the past few months and this competition will provide a good platform to test our skills and prove our mettle.”
Bronze medallist at 2011 Junior World Championships, Poona Chahal (60kg) of Haryana will also be seen in action at Serbia. Chahal, who won a gold medal last year at the 7th Youth Women National Championships, will be looking to win her first international gold.
By Indian Sports News Network
