BFI fields full strength Indian Men's & Women's squads at ASBC Asian Boxing Championships

BFI fields full strength Indian Men’s & Women’s squads at ASBC Asian Boxing Championships

New Delhi: A full-strength Indian contingent is all set to contest at the 2021 ASBC Asian Boxing Championships in Dubai this month. The event is jointly hosted by BFI and UAE Boxing Federation. The competition will kick start from May 24 to June 1.

Although the current travel ban had raised doubts over India's participation in the championships, BFI put up best efforts to make sure its boxers do not miss the opportunity of contesting in the illustrious event. The federation, which had earlier picked the women’s team spearheaded by the star boxer Mary Kom, also announced the men’s team headed by defending champion Amit Panghal. All the players along with coaches and support staff are already in the biosecure bubble.

“Players’ best interest has always been a priority for the Boxing Federation of India and now is no different. We are thankful to the UAE Government, Indian Ambassador to UAE Mr Pavan Kapoor and ASBC President Anas Alotaiba who have helped us in every possible way to secure the team’s travel to Dubai. This is a much-needed competition which is crucial for the final phase of training and preparation for the Olympics,” BFI President Ajay Singh said.

“I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the participating boxers along with the member nations, all the very best,” he further added.

Alongwith Asian Games gold medallist Panghal (52kg), Vikas Krishan (69kg) and Ashish Kumar (75kg) are the other Olympic-bound boxers who have been selected into the men’s contingent. The other names featuring in the team are the 2013 Asian Championships gold medal winner Shiva Thapa (64kg), Commonwealth Games bronze winner Mohammad Hussamuddin (56kg), Vinod Tanwar (49kg), Varinder Singh (60kg), Sumit Sangwan (81kg), Sanjeet (91kg) and Narender (+91kg).

The Asian Championships was the first boxing event to take off in the continent; the Championship was initially scheduled to be hosted in New Delhi. However, owing to international travel restrictions, the event had to be shifted to Dubai. The Indian contingent is expected to land in Dubai on May 22 and will be issued with visas on their arrival. All the top boxers and Olympic-bound pugilists are participating in the Championship.

Indian squad:

(Men): Vinod Tanwar (49kg), Amit Panghal (52kg), Mohammad Hussamuddin (56kg), Varinder Singh (60kg), Shiva Thapa (64kg), Vikas Krishan (69kg), Ashish Kumar (75kg), Sumit Sangwan (81kg), Sanjeet (91kg) and Narender (+91kg).

(Women): Monika (48kg), MC Mary Kom (51kg), Sakshi (54kg), Jasmine (57kg), Simranjeet Kaur (60kg), Lalbuatsaihi (64kg), Lovlina Borgohain (69kg), Pooja Rani (75kg), Saweety (81kg) and Anupama (+81kg).