Indian junior women boxers leave for Serbia

Boxers and team support staffs pose for a photograph

New Delhi, July 6 : 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 6^th July – 9^th July 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.

Women’s boxing in Indian has seen a surge in its popularity over the past few years and is fast becoming a viable choice of profession for budding athletes. The country now boasts of a strong bank of women pugilists, not just at the senior level but in every age group of the sport. A testament to this statement is the kind of talent witnessed at the sub-junior and junior national championships and the performance of Indian women in the International arena. The Indian Amateur Boxing Federation aims at further enhancing the level of the game by providing young athletes with ample international exposure. To this effect, and as a part of the junior women boxers’ preparation for major competitions in the future, IABF decided to field a team for this tournament.

Chief Coach of the Indian Junior Women’s team, IV Rao believes the tournament will offer good competition and will therefore be big learning experience for the Indian girls. He 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 stated,“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, who is always brimming with energy 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.

The complete squad is as follows:

Light Fly Weight (48kg)-Lalenkawli (MIZ), Light Fly Weight (48kg)-Priya Gorh (ASM), Fly Weight (51kg)- Neelam Saini (HAR), Fly Weight (51kg)- Sujatha Gane (AP), Bantam Weight (54kg)-Priya (HAR), Feather Weight (57kg)-Lalruatfeli (MIZ), Light Weight (60kg)- Rupinder Kaur (PUN), Light Welter Weight (64kg) - Poonam (HAR) , Welter weight (69kg)- Marthamma Sattivada (AP) Heavy WeightNeha Anil Rothe (MAH)

Support Staff

IV RaoChief- Coach, Narasinga Rao-Coach, Tsungchetrenla Coach, Jiten Singh Thokchom -Coach, Prabhakara Rao- Doctor, Jainab Bibi Shiek-physiotherapist