Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain would be the centre of attraction for Indian followers as the nation’s boxers are all set to take part in the first-ever World boxing championships organised by the brand new international federation, World Boxing (WB), in Liverpool on Thursday.
This would be the first World championships for novice boxers in greater than two years after the International Olympic Committee disaffiliated the International Boxing Association and changed it with WB to conduct Olympic-style boxing.
India has fielded a squad that includes a mixture of youth and expertise.
Notwithstanding their distinctive observe information, two-time World champion Nikhat and Worlds gold medallist and Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina had been away from motion for a number of months after the Paris Olympics. This will probably be their first international occasion in greater than a yr.
Besides her quest to search out prime type, a serious problem for the unseeded Nikhat, who had a disappointing outing in Paris, could be to suit into 51kg.
Lovlina (75kg), seeded second for her Paris quarterfinal end, is known to have regained some rhythm.
Counterpuncher Olympian Jaismine Lamboriya (57kg) has been sharpening her assaults, whereas the seasoned Pooja Rani (80kg) is eager to make an affect.
The greatest wager for India appears to be two-time World youth champion Sakshi Chaudhary (54kg), who toppled some large names throughout the two World Cups.
“Our sparring was good and now it’s about executing our plans,” mentioned girls’s head coach D. Chandralal.
The Indian girls went by way of the necessary gender take a look at earlier than leaving for the United Kingdom.
Prominent faces
For the boys, former World youth champion Sachin Siwach (60kg) and Asian Games bronze medallist Narender Berwal (90+kg) are the distinguished faces. Jadumani Singh (50kg), Abhinash Jamwal (65kg) and Sumit Kundu (75kg), who’s returning after a two-year damage lay-off, are the opposite gifted boxers.
Jadumani and Pawan Bartwal (60kg) are being monitored for their weights.
“Despite the delay in visas, our boxers utilised the time spent at the Sheffield camp well to get acclimatised. Our confidence is high,” mentioned males’s head coach Dharmendra Singh.
Altogether 11 out of 20 Indian boxers, together with 5 girls, have been seeded for the occasion.
The squad: Men: Jadumani Singh (50kg), Pawan Bartwal (55kg), Sachin Siwach (60kg), Abhinash Jamwal (65kg), Hitesh (70kg), Sumit Kundu (75kg), Lakshya Chahar (80kg), Jugnoo (85kg), Harsh Choudhary (90kg), Narender Berwal (90+kg).
Women: Minakshi (48kg), Nikhat Zareen (51kg), Sakshi Chaudhary (54kg), Jaismine Lamboriya (57kg), Sanju (60kg), Neeraj Phogat (65kg), Sanamacha Chanu (70kg), Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), Pooja Rani (80kg) and Nupur Sheoran (80+kg).
