India announce boxing squad for South Asian Games

M. C. Mary Kom heads the 10-member team announced for the forthcoming South Asian Games to be held in Shillong from February 13 to 16.

(From left to right) Manoj Kumar, Shiva Thapa, L. Devendro Singh and Mandeep Jangra: five of the elite men's contingent selected for the South Asian Games.

India named a strong 10-member boxing team for the forthcoming South Asian Games to be held in Shillong from February 13 to 16.

The elite women’s team will be spearheaded by London Olympic bronze medallist and five-time world champion M.C. Mary Kom in the 51kg category while L Sarita Devi (60kg) and Popja Rani Bohra (75kg) are the other two female boxers named in the squad. Sarjubala (51kg), Sonia Lather (60kg) and Aruna Mishra (75kg) have been named as the reserves.

The elite men’s consists of L Devendro Singh (49kg), Madan Lal (51kg), Shiva Thapa (56kg), Dheeraj (60kg), Manoj Kumar (64kg), Mandeep Jangra (69kg) and Vikas Krishan (75kg).

The reserves named in the men’s section are Shymakumar Kakara (49kg), Kavinder Bisht (51kg), V Durga Rao (56kg), Manish (60kg), Thomas M (64kg), Rakesh (69kg) and Sukhdeep Singh Bhatti (75kg).

Jaydev Bisht, Dharmender S Yadav, Kuttappa, O Geeta Chanu and Sandhya Gurung have been named as the coaches, Convenor of the AIBA Ad-hoc Committee for Indian Boxing Jay Kowli said in a statement.