New Delhi: The India national youth boxing squad is all geared up to represent the country at the upcoming AIBA Youth World Championships which will be held in Armenia. The 2012 edition of the event will be organised by the Boxing Federation of Armenia from November 25th to December 8th, 2012 in the capital city of Yerevan. Welcoming international athletes in 10 weight categories, the championships allows young boxers of 17 and 18 years of age, to compete against the best in their division with hopes of international stardom.
The Indian performance graph, since the year 2000 has had an upward trend in the tournament and has witnessed India bag 2 gold medals, 2 silver medals and 3 bronze medals in the last six editions of the biennial event. In 2008 Nanao Singh created history by becoming the first Indian boxer to win a gold medal at the inaugural Youth World Championships (formerly known as the AIBA World Cadet Championships). The previous edition, in 2010, Indian pugilists went one step further; Vikas Krishan (60kg) won the light weight title, while Shiva Thapa (54kg) finished with a silver medal performance – Indian was ranked fourth that year. Looking at the past records the expectations from the Indian contingent will be, to at best equal the 2010 performances, if not to better it.
The current Indian Junior/Youth squad is in the last leg of its preparation for the premier event at the SAI Western Training Centre in Aurangabad, under the supervision of Coach-in-charge G Manoharan. The talented group of pugilists will be attending their first World Championship, where representatives from five continents will be present. Despite fielding a young and a fresh batch of boxers Coach Manoharan is confident of a positive result. He believes what the players lack in experience they make up for in skill and motivation. The veteran coach stated, “We have young team and they haven’t had much exposure at the international level. But we have worked very hard in the training camp I am positive that we will reach the medal rounds in at least three weight categories if not more”. Talking about the recent performance of the Indian Youth team, Manoharan said, “We did quite well at the recently concluded 33rd International Tammer Tournament in Finland and that gives us a good indication of skill set our boxers possess and how they perform against tough opposition.
Leading the Indian charge will be 17 year old Lalitha P Prasad (49 Kg) in light fly weight division. The nimble footed youngster, who is product of the Boys Sports Company in Pune, has great potential and the capabilities to cause major upsets in the tournament. He won the light fly weight title at the 2012 Tammer International tournament. Dheeraj Singh (49 Kg), another services boxer, will stake a claim for the yellow metal in the light fly weight division. Dheeraj, who recently turned 18, won a bronze medal winner at the 2011 Agalarov Cup in Azerbaijan and in Finland he went one step further to bring home the silver medal. The complete squad is as follows:
By Indian Sports News Network
